Last week, the Associated Press reported that the head of the French National Olympic Committee announced it will not permit their athletes to wear arm badges in protest of the Chinese government’s treatment of the Tibetan people.

The announcement came after a group of 20 French athletes gathered to unveil their design and plan for the armbands. The badge features the words "France" and "Pour un monde meilleur" — "For a better world" in French — above the five Olympic rings. French Olympic Committee Chief Henri Serandour said that with more than 200 countries represented at the Games, "We can't wear a badge for this cause, a badge for that cause....”

I’m willing to concede that the message on the badge is not exactly dripping with political venom. “For a Better World” is probably about as tame as it can get. It’s not like it reads “Death to Chinese Oppressors” or “The Chinese Government is Evil,” messages that might justify a ban. But bottom line is political messages do not belong on the Olympic podium.
In an interview on Europe-1 radio, French pole vaulter Romain Mesnil said the decision to ban the badge "puts into question the fundamental values of the Olympic spirit.” Perhaps Mesnil should slide back down his pole and get a closer look at the Olympic Charter.

The Olympic Charter, established in 1894, outlines six fundamental principles of Olympism. At the heart of each principle is a focus on the practice of sport. The Charter prohibits any kind of "demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda" at all Olympic sites as well as the display of political slogans or symbols on athletes’ uniforms. Finally, the Charter clearly states that the Olympic Games are “competitions between athletes in individual or team events and not between countries.”

I agree that athletes have just as much right to protest the actions of the Chinese government as those in political office but I also believe they more than anyone should want to uphold the core values of the Olympics.