Should sport and politics mix?

England's Steve Harmison has opted out of the Zimbabwe tour on moral grounds

The announcement of the England cricket team to tour Zimbabwe in November has once again raised questions about the relationship between sport and politics.

Some England players opted out of the tour on moral grounds, saying they refuse to travel to a country whose human rights record they question.

BBC Fast Track is asking:

Should sportsmen and women be making such moral decisions?

Do you believe sport should be influenced by politics?

Is there a role for sports people in political life?

Join the debate this Friday 1 October at 1630 GMT and 1830 GMT.

Use the form to send us your comments - some of which will be published below.

If you would like to take part in the discussion, e-mail us with your telephone number, which will not be published.

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Your comments:

Sport should help unite the warring political differences as opposed to fuelling them.
Mackean Gulumba, Lilongwe, Malawi

Sportspeople should be good sports and play wherever invited, rather than try to be the politicians they are probably not. Boycotting certain countries does nothing for sport, nor for politics. Apart from anything else, sporting events come with the media, enabling the truth to come out, without which no regime can be confronted.
Robert Alu, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Politics and sport must never be mixed. It's only that the British government is trying to utilise every opportunity to tarnish the image of Zimbabwe whether its politics, sport, humanitarian, economics etc. But how many people know that Robert Mugabe is the official patron of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union? And that his wife is the patron of Zimbabwe tennis?
Richard Charim, London, England (formerly Zimbabwe)

In response to Mr Richard Charim, Zimbabwe's image does not need England to tarnish it. Mugabe and Zanu PF have done that already and are still continuing to and I can't believe there are still people like you who (especially coming from Zimbabwe) continue to think that way!!
Audrey, Harare, Zimbabwe

Sport acts as a stress reliever for the poor man. For that short moment in time - whether it be football, rugby or cricket - every problem tends to stand still and nothing matters but pride in your country. By taking sport away, this just makes matters worse for the poor man.
Simbarashe Nkrumah, Kinston Jamaica

Sports people should definitely make such moral decisions. By refusing to play matches in Zimbabwe, the players are sending a message to Mugabe and the rest of the world that things are not alright there. We should all remember the important contribution that the sports ban had on ending Apartheid in South Africa. Sport is not the ideal tool to effect political change but it is indeed a useful one and anyone in Zimbabwe knows how desperate we are for such change.
Dom Passaportis, Harare, Zimbabwe

Sports and politics should not mix. For England to send a team to Zimbabwe means the country is supporting a political system that has reduced its people to misery. I suggest the English team seeks another country to show its outstanding prowess.
Alberto dos Santos, Collegedale, USA

There is a role for sports people in political life. Politics has definitely taken a centre stage in everyday life. I support 100% the stance taken by some English cricketers for not touring Zimbabwe. It is pointless to go and prop up a murderous regime which is raping and starving its people on a daily basis. As a matter of urgency, the world must treat this regime in the same way it did South Africa before that nation's independence. Hats off to Steve for boycotting this tour on moral grounds.
George Timuri, Margate, UK

This is not an issue that can be decided by a governing body or sports commission. The players refusing to go are doing so for their own ethical reasons. I doubt if any official stance from any governing body will change opinions. Of course players have the right to take part in politics, but their arrival in Harare will be used non-stop by the Zimbabwe propaganda machine yet the wishes and beliefs of the sportsmen should not be stifled or rendered irrelevant by the ICC or any other governing body. This would amount to stripping the English players of their morals and sense of dignity by denying them their most basic of human rights - the right to freedom of opinion, exactly what they are protesting over in Zimbabwe!!
Al, Maidstone UK

As in Athens, sport is where countries that have rifts like USA and Iraq come together and try to mend them. Sports should be used as a diplomatic channel to try and reconcile fighting nations. Players should make moral decisions on moral issues.
Kibiru, Kenya

It is foolish for sportsmen to get involved in politics, because sports has nothing to do with politics and politics is not cricket, football or any other game.
Charles Simwaba, The Hague, Holland

England is lending legitimacy to Mugabe's government by agreeing to play. Will Mugabe attend the games - you bet!
David, London, UK

By attending, England obviously find it unnecessary to care for the suffering of millions of people, under one of the few dictators in our time. Of course, Mugabe's crusade is for the good of black people, not to fill his own bank with money.
Frazer Sloan, Nadap, Hungary

There are two ways to look at this important issue: sportsmen and women are citizens and therefore have a right to participate in political debate or issues. But the question is - should the morality of sportsmen and women be allowed to rise to the same high standards which their stardom puts them in the public eye? My thoughts are that politicians seek legitimacy through people as popular are sports stars. As such, sportsmen and women should not allow politicians to tarnish their stardom. Politicians like Mr Mugabe and others in Africa should be deprived of every opportunity for legitimacy by association.
Levai Babaya, Minnesota, USA

It is in the mind of a person to choose what he or she thinks about what they opt to do in a situation like this. I'm a cricket player and would be happy to see Steve Harrison representing England. The only problem is that politicians take this opportunity to use popular sportsmen to gain politically, so in this regard politics will always be the winner.
Simba, Zimbabwe

I have respect for sportsmen who stand up for what they believe. The situation in Zimbabwe is desperate and anyone with moral sense will not enjoy themselves on the cricket field when thousands of kids are dying of hunger and disease. Any gesture these players make to highlight the plight of Zimbabweans must be complimented.
Denford Madenyika, Durham, USA

Much as we would love to keep the two separate, history tells us different. Would we have had the Olympic Games had the Greeks not been at war most of the time? Why is Israel in Asia but competing in the Uefa and World Cup qualifiers in Europe? It remains to be seen when we shall be civilized enough to keep the two apart.
Che Sunday, Cameroon/USA

Separation of religion and politics and also separation of politics and sport is the way to go. The player should play anywhere in the world regardless of the country's political situation - as along as it is safe for the player.
Mulugeta Ketema, USA/NYC

Sports should bring people together regardless of their political differences. The action of these British sports people in opting out of the Zimbabwe tour is mere in the political affairs of a poor African country. Zimbabwe is not the greatest human right abuser on the African continent. Look at Sudan.
Awak Malith, New York, USA

Of course there is room for sports people in political life! More to the point, what is wrong with sports-people making moral decisions - we all do, everyday in life! The only difference here is that the effect is felt on a grand scale, and highlights issues which otherwise may be forgotten. These guys obviously feel strongly against the idea of playing cricket in front of a despot ,whilst down the road in Mbare and Chitungwiza, not to mention down-town Harare, African people are starving and dying because of that despot's political desire to remain in power at all costs. I see nothing wrong with their stand and applaud them for their courage.
Bruce Aitken, Twynholm, Scotland (ex-Harare, Zimbabwe)

Let me remind you of the sporting ban placed on South Africa during apartheid and how that brought that regime into the spotlight. Of course, any sportsman is proud to represent their country and shouldn't be blamed for that, but they should not condone a regime of racial prejudice and hatred.
M Parker, London, England (formerly Zimbabwe)

Sportsmen and women should not be influenced by politics. Their duty is not only to a nation but all. The smiles and jubilations they put on every faces will not be there should they be influenced by politics. There is no role for them in politics.
Garland Orhue Ogiegor, Egor, Edo state, Nigeria

Sports and politics should not mix, but it is inevitable that they do. Look at the Olympic boycotts of the past. Perhaps if the safety of both the players and the spectators were to be threatened, then such a series such as the one due to take place in Zimbabwe in November should not take place. But then again famous rivalries in particular between football teams in which there is a high chance of violence between opposing supporters are never cancelled on the grounds that there may be violence. In these games there is more cause for concern than that between two politically divided governments. If India and Pakistan can tour, I do not see why Zimbabwe and England cannot do the same.
Mr Suzuki, Yokohama, Japan