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From Tibet Society, Free Tibet Campaign, Tibetan Community in Britain, Students for a Free Tibet, Tibetan Youth UK
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 August 2007

Will the International Olympic Committee stand by its principles?
 
China prepares for one-year countdown as Tibet calls for representation at the Beijing Games.

[London UK, Wednesday 8 August] As China marks the start of the one-year countdown with a fanfare of celebrations and ceremonies, increasingly questions are being asked of the International Olympic Committee and its brave assertion that the Beijing Olympics would be a “force for good”.
 
Amidst this backdrop and with China stepping up its suppression of basic freedoms within Tibet, Tibetans from all over the world are calling on the International Olympic Committee to give them the chance of seeing their country being part of the Beijing Olympic Games. The newly formed National Olympic Committee Tibet has written to Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, requesting an invitation for “Team Tibet” to represent Tibet at the 2008 Olympics.
 
Team Tibet is made up of young Tibetan athletes forced to live in exile from their homeland, but who all believe in their country and want to participate in the Olympic Games and fly the Tibetan flag alongside the flags of the world’s nations. Through their enthusiasm and determination a global movement has developed to support and plead their cause. By agreeing to this request, the Committee have an ideal opportunity to show the world that the Beijing Games can live up to the Olympic ideal and “contribute to building a peaceful and better world through sport practised without discrimination of any kind”.
 
“We are extremely proud to have a group of young Tibetan athletes eager to participate in next year’s games, hence our decision to form a National Olympic Committee”, said Wangpo Tethong, President of the National Olympic Committee Tibet.
 
Pema Yoko, a member of Team Tibet said, “Being part of Team Tibet is not about boycotting the Beijing Olympics, it’s about being part of it, it’s about celebrating along with China and all the other nations. It is a great opportunity for Tibet. As a Tibetan I would love to stand there in the stadium with my fellow Tibetans waving our flag amongst all the other flags of the world. I am really proud to be part of Team Tibet”.
 
The formation of Team Tibet comes amidst an increasing momentum that is seeing Tibetan people coming forward to advocate their right to freedom and justice for their country. Other examples of this are to be seen in Delhi with the Mass People’s Movement. Initiated by the Tibetan Youth Congress, this has inspired thousands of Tibetans be in Delhi to mark the start of the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympics. This historic action is expected to be the single largest demonstration by the exiled Tibetan community. Also in Delhi a hunger strike by 14 Tibetans continues and, despite its simple demands, is now in its 32nd day.
 
It is also evident in Tibet where at the recent annual horse racing festival held in Lithang, Schuan Province in late July, a Tibetan nomad, Ronggay A'drak, jumped on the stage set up for dignitaries and shouted out slogans such as “The Dalai Lama should return to Tibet", "Tibet wants Independence". The large crowd joined in unison and Ronggay A'drak was then arrested; his whereabouts remains unknown. Following his seizure, over 2,000 Tibetan nomads and local people converged on the detention centre calling for his release, but were dispersed with warnings that the Beijing government would be involved if they continued their action.
 
Today will further build on these actions with Tibetans and their supporters beginning a worldwide campaign in support of Team Tibet and its request to bring Tibet to the Beijing Olympics through participation.
 
“Tibetans will be gathering all over the world today and demanding with one voice that the international media shines the torch of scrutiny upon China’s deliberate destruction of a nation and culture over almost 60 years” said Matt Whitticase of Free Tibet Campaign. “With only one year to go to the Games and when global attention on China will be at its most intense, we are calling on people everywhere to add their voice to the global plea that China ends its brutal occupation of Tibet before a unique civilization is lost forever.”
 
Philippa Carrick of the Tibet Society commented, “As host to the Games, surely China must show openness and willingness to foster the Olympic ideal? The International Olympic Committee must also have the courage to stand by its fundamental principles in order to maintain credibility. This is not politicising the Games, it is asking for no more than belief in the Olympic principles and adherence to those principles. I fully support the right of Tibetans to represent Tibet at the Olympic Games”
 
Activities in London will include the launch of Team Tibet with Tibetan members of the team based in the UK having a warm up in Trafalgar Square. This will be followed by a rally outside the Chinese Embassy where Tibetan MP, Sonam Frasi, will light a symbolic Tibetan Olympic torch to keep the dream of bringing Tibet to the Olympics alive.
[ends]
 
For background / further information / interviews with members of Team Tibet, contact:
Philippa Carrick, Chief Executive Tibet Society:  020 7272 1414 / 07941 105485 email: philippa@tibetsociety.com
Sopie Bod Free Tibet Campaign: 020 7324 4605 email: sophie@freetibet.org 
Pema Yoko, Students for a Free Tibet: 07825  616 357  email: pema@sftuk.org
Dalha Tsering, Tibetan Community in Britain: 07939 987 882 email: dalhatsering@yahoo.co.uk 
Karma Chura Tsang, Tibetan Youth UK: 07725 501 995  email: info@tibetanyouthuk.org 
 
 
Background Notes to editors
 
National Olympic Committee Tibet: www.noc-tibet.org  
 
Team Tibet: www.teamtibet.co.uk; www.supportteamtibet.org
 
Lithang arrest: http://www.tchrd.org/press/2007/pr20070802.html
 
 
The demands of The People's Movement
http://www.tibetanyouthcongress.org/news/july7_2007.html
•         •         Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, has been missing since 1995.  The Chinese authorities have repeatedly stated that he is alive.  We demand concrete evidence that he is indeed alive.
•         •         In 2005, Tulku Tenzin Delek was sentenced to life imprisonment on alleged charges of “endangering national security”.  Many other Tibetans have been imprisoned after engaging in political activity.  The Chinese authorities claim that these people were sentenced by fair judicial process.  We demand that the PRC produce convincing evidence that judicial proceedings have taken place in a fair manner.  
•         •         The PRC Government maintains the position that Tibetans enjoy human rights in Tibet, despite many reports of human rights violations, including freedom of religion.  We demand that the PRC produce concrete evidence that the Tibetans are enjoying human rights in Tibet.
•         •         China’s new railway line in Tibet is causing a massive population influx of Chinese into Tibet, marginalisation of native Tibetans, exploitation of natural resources, destruction of the environment, and eradication of Tibetan culture.  China's stated rationale for this railway is to bring economic prosperity to the Tibetan people.  We therefore demand that the PRC produce reliable evidence that the railway line benefits Tibetans economically.
•         •         The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has aims to improve the human rights situation inside Tibet and China by giving Beijing an opportunity to host the Olympics.  We therefore demand that the IOC produce conclusive evidence that the human rights situation inside Tibet is acceptable.
 
Tibetan Youth Congress website: http://www.tibetanyouthcongress.org/
Kalsang Phuntsok Gordukpa, President Tibetan Youth Congress: +91 9418329696, email: kappyla@yahoo.com
 
Hunger strikers
Lobsang, male, 75
Tashi Thondu, male, 73
Tsering Norzom, female, 67
Dawa Tsering, male, 66
Tsewang Dhargyal, male, 65
Karma Sonam, male, 61
Tashi Wangdue, male, 54
Kesang Youdon, female, 53
Kalsang Dawa, male, 53
Ven Tsondue Gyatso Naknya, monk, 35
Ven Gelek Gyatso Yougang, monk, 34
Jamyang Yeshi, male, 33
Nyima Tsering, male, 31
Passang Dorjee, male, 26
 
 
Tibetan Parliament: http://www.tibet.net/en/atpd/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvUdDD_j5sw

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F R E E   T I B E T   C A M P A I G N
28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT, UK
Phone: +44 (0)20 7324 4605
Fax: +44 (0)20 7324 4606
Web: http://www.freetibet.org
Email: mail@freetibet.org
- an independent membership organisation campaigning in support of the rights of the Tibetan people to freedom and independence.
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The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Free Tibet Campaign.

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 August 2007

 

Contact: Wangpo Tethong in Switzerland (English/German) +41 78 744 30 10

 

TIBET’S NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE VISITS HEADQUARTERS

CALLS ON IOC TO SUPPORT “TEAM TIBET” AT BEIJING 2008

 

Lausanne, Switzerland - On the eve of the one-year countdown to the Beijing Olympics, representatives of the newly formed National Olympic Committee Tibet (NOC Tibet) visited the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this morning, seeking support for their request to participate in the Beijing 2008 Games. They were received by Mr. Ben Seeley from the Departement of Communications.

 

Last Friday, 3 August, the NOC Tibet requested an invitation for Team Tibet to be admitted to the Games. Representatives today handed over a copy of the NOC Tibet’s by-laws and reiterated their determination to see a team of Tibetan athletes take part in the 2008 Olympics.

 

Mr. Seeley  informed the Tibetans  that  the application will be passed on to the department in charge and advised NOC-Tibet to stay in touch with the office of President Jacques Rogge.

 

“We are calling on the IOC to allow Tibet its rightful place in the global sporting arena, among other nations of the world,” said Wangpo Tethong, President of the NOC Tibet. Two members of Team Tibet, Rigzin Gyaltag (men’s cycling) and Lhazom Pünkang (women’s 10 000 metre run) were part of the delegation led by Wangpo Tethong and Kelsang Gope, an NOC Tibet Board Member. A banner reading “Bring Tibet to the 2008 Games” was displayed outside the IOC offices.

 

“The IOC is allowing China to use the Olympics to cover up its abysmal human rights record,” said Kelsang Gope. “Today, on the eve of the one-year countdown to the Beijing Games, 14 Tibetans are on the 31st day of an indefinite hunger strike, demanding that China end its occupation of Tibet. Tibetans and supporters worldwide are taking action, calling for a resolution to the Tibet issue. It is time for the IOC to hold China accountable to international human rights standards.”

 

Earlier this week, the NOC Tibet informed all National Olympic Committees and IOC delegates about the formation of NOC Tibet, asking for their support to include this new member in the Olympic family.

 

Notes to editors:
1. NOC Tibet was established on July 30, 2007. Its board members are: Wangpo Tethong, President (Based in Switzerland), Chungdak Koren (Mrs), Vice-President (Based in Norway), Chonpel Tsering (United Kingdom), Kelsang Dhondup (India), Lobsang Gyalpo (Austria), Kelsang Gope (Switzerland), Nima Dorjee (Canada), Thuten Kesang (New Zealand).
2. For more information on the National Olympic Committee Tibet, see www.noc-tibet.org.
3. For more information on Team Tibet, see www.supportteamtibet.org. Members of the public are invited to register as supporters of Team Tibet on this site.