Australian Olympian Michelle Engelsman joined Simon Bradshaw, ATC’s Campaign Coordinator, for the media launch of the Beijing 2008 Tibet Resource Pack, aimed at athletes and spectators heading to next month’s Olympics in Beijing.

The pack contains a briefing on the Tibetan situation, information on restrictions faced by athletes and others travelling to Beijing, a T-shirt with the message “I support human rights” in English and Mandarin and a range of items to help show support for human rights and Tibet. For those travelling to Beijing, the pack is available on request and in confidence from the Australia Tibet Council.

If you know an Australian athlete or spectator going to Beijing, please ask them to have a look at the Beijing 2008 Tibet Resource Pack.

“The Olympics and Paralympics are a beautiful representation of unity, achievement, determination, humanity, and freedom. I completely support athletes who choose to focus entirely on their sporting endeavours in Beijing, and I completely support those who wish to express their opinions on the human rights situation in China,” said Michelle Engelsman.

It was hoped that the staging of the Olympic Games in Beijing would provide an incentive to improve human rights in China and to address the Tibet situation. Despite international calls to work constructively towards a peaceful resolution, with only weeks before the Games commence, the Chinese government has intensified its repression in Tibet and demonstrated its unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama.

ATC has created the Beijing 2008 Tibet Resource Pack in response to requests from people heading to Beijing for the Olympics who are keen to show their support for a peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.

The message “I support human rights” is printed in English and Mandarin on the T-shirt. This simple and positive message falls outside the scope of restrictions placed on what people may carry to Beijing. The pack contains a replica of the ‘Olympic Project for Human Rights’ badge warn by Australian sprinter Peter Norman when he joined John Carlos and Tommy Smith in the famous ‘Black Power’ protest at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Importantly, the pack also contains comprehensive information on Tibet to help people, who hope to share their concerns and opinions with others, to be more informed before going to Beijing.

ATC recognizes that the Olympic Games have the potential to be a powerful force for good but in the past it has taken a few courageous and determined individuals to show the world the true meaning of Olympic Spirit and inspire positive change.

The Beijing 2008 Tibet Resource Pack is also being promoted by Amnesty International Australia through their “Uncensor” website (www.uncensor.com.au) and Facebook group “China 2008”.

Read the media release
Download the briefing document
Travelling to Beijing? To request a Beijing 2008 Tibet Resource Pack contact the Australia Tibet Council on 02 9283 3466 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Note: With tough regulations in place to discourage athletes and others heading to the Games from speaking out, the options for those wishing to show their support for Tibet without facing consequences are limited. The educational resource, T-shirt and badge in this pack have been carefully designed in accordance with restrictions imposed by the Olympic charter and the Australian Olympic Committee. However, individuals need to be aware that they may not be permitted to carry certain other items in the pack to Beijing.