Row over UK Olympians' contract

Olympians will be swimming at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing

The British Olympic Association has defended its contract for athletes travelling to China for the 2008 Games.

For the first time, the contract which the athletes must sign refers to an Olympic rule prohibiting political demonstrations or propaganda.

The BOA has faced accusations that it is trying to suppress comment about sensitive political issues.

It insists it is not trying to gag athletes or stop them answering direct questions on political subjects.

For the last 20 years team members have been obliged to sign a contract as a condition of taking part in the games.

Reminder

However, according to the BBC's sports correspondent Gordon Farquhar, for the first time a clause specifically referring to political demonstrations has been included.

The BOA's athlete contract is a lengthy document, covering all aspects of participation - but the contract for Beijing includes a reminder to respect Section 51 of the IOC's charter.

I think most athletes want to be there to compete Duncan Goodhew Former Olympic swimmer

This says that athletes must not indulge in any kind of political demonstration or racial or religious propaganda at the Olympic sites and venues.

The BOA says the athletes' representative body, the British Athletes Commission, has not objected to this particular inclusion, and that its intention is not to gag Team GB members or stop them from answering direct questions about political or human rights issues in China.

The BAC does say, however, that athletes need to understand it is the sporting competition that is paramount, and that they will be in Beijing to try and win medals.

Former Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Duncan Goodhew told BBC Radio 5 Live that most competitors would concentrate on their event - and leave the politics to others.

"I think most athletes want to be there to compete and I suspect they would like a party line where they can just follow behind those that are able to answer the questions more fully."

The former sprinter, and fellow Olympic gold medallist, Darren Campbell said he could understand the situation from the point of view of both the BOC and the athletes.

"I wouldn't have wanted to go into an Olympic Games...worrying about what I say or whether I get tricked into saying something or making a comment on something.''