Any of you folks remember when the Olympics was Apolitical???

....well you ain't in Kansas any more pilgrims. The Chinese can't even get the pollution levels low enough in Beijing to allow the marathon to be run there -- but they can sure can erase any unkind remarks before they are even mouthed.. This, from todays London Daily Mail:

Britain kow tows to China as athletes are forced to sign no criticism contracts

By ROB DRAPER and DANIEL KING - 10th February 2008

Gagged: Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe is likely to be one of those affected by the banBritish Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China's appalling human rights record – or face being banned from travelling to Beijing.
The move – which raises the spectre of the order given to the England football team to give a Nazi salute in Berlin in 1938 – immediately provoked a storm of protest.
The controversial clause has been inserted into athletes' contracts for the first time and forbids them from making any political comment about countries staging the Olympic Games.
It is contained in a 32-page document that will be presented to all those who reach the qualifying standard and are chosen for the team.
From the moment they sign up, the competitors – likely to include the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips and world record holder Paula Radcliffe – will be effectively gagged from commenting on China's politics, human rights abuses or illegal occupation of Tibet.
Prince Charles has already let it be known that he will not be going to China, even if he is invited by Games organisers.

..... I reckon you could say 'The games have already begun and the games haven't even started yet!'