Apparently sport is not the right arena in which to express concern for human rights according to the French national Olympic committee (CNOSF). Its president, Henri Sérandour, has banned this country’s athletes from wearing a badge with the slogan “Pour un monde meilleur” (For a better world) during this summer’s games in Beijing.

Sérandour, told L’Equipe television that such a move would contravene the Olympic charter, which he said, “Precluded any tangible demonstration of any kind during (Olympic) competition and the opening and closing ceremonies.”

It’s a sad reversal of a statement made by the same man just a couple of weeks ago after French athletes decided to adopt the badge, which depicts the slogan above the five Olympic rings.

Back then Sérandour said he would fight for the sentiment for a “better world” not only within the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but also “as a message for the 2008 games and beyond.”

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