Beijing Winter Olympics 2022: Aussie athletes won’t be gagged for speaking up about Peng Shuai despite Chinese warnings

Foreign athletes have been advised to bite their lips until they safely return home from China but Australia’s Winter Olympians have been given different instructions.

Australians competing at next month’s Winter Olympics in China have been assured by their team bosses that they won’t be gagged if they choose to speak up about human rights issues or the subject of where is tennis star Peng Shuai.

Team officials say they are not expecting any Aussie athletes to publicly criticise the Olympic host nation but say they won’t stand in their way if they do, despite facing the possibility of punishment.

“Our athletes do have their voice and they’re absolutely free and they’re encouraged to use that platform and what they believe in,” the Australian team chef de mission Geoff Lipshut said. “But we also credit our athletes as being really sensible people who have travelled a lot.”

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Chef de mission Geoff Lipshut says Australian athletes won’t be muzzled in China. Picture: AAP/Paul Miller

Olympic rules effectively prohibit athletes from protesting or making political statements ­during competition or at medal presentations, but that hasn’t stopped some from boldly taking a stand at other major events.

Australian swimmer Mack Horton famously refused to join his now-banned rival Sun Yang on the medal podium at the 2019 world championships, upsetting millions of Chinese.

With Beijing back in the spotlight as host of the Winter Olympics, Chinese officials have already sent a thinly veiled warning to any competitors considering taking a stand on sensitive issues, saying they may be punished if they step out of line.

A lot of foreign athletes have reportedly been advised to bite their lips until they safely return home from China, but Lipshut said none of the Aussies would be muzzled, though he did not expect any issues with athletes.

“A lot of athletes have competed in China previously without it being an Olympic Games, just for sporting events year in, year out,” he said.

“And they‘ve got a pretty good read on things over there so I’m really confident our athletes will get that right.

“When acting within the rules, they can feel 100 per cent safe.”

Lipshut also confirmed the final two members of the Australian team for next month’s Games had been approved, with Kailani Craine and Brendan Kerry securing spots in their individual figure skating events.

Both experienced Olympians, their inclusion lifts the total team size to 44, Australia’s third largest at a Winter Olympics, covering 10 different sports.

“It’s hard to even put into words of what it means,” Craine said. “I’ve been chasing this the whole season.”