Olympic controls on freedom of speech have been challenged by a Brazilian judge who has ordered Rio 2016 organizers to "allow peaceful protests inside stadiums," according to Jonathan Watts of the London GUARDIAN. The preliminary ruling on Monday "came after several spectators were expelled from Olympic arenas for displaying anti-government banners and T-shirts that highlighted the country’s ongoing political turmoil." Federal Deputy Judge João Augusto Carneiro de Araújo ordered Rio 2016 organizers to “refrain immediately” from the repression of peaceful demonstrations, which are guaranteed by Brazil’s constitution. He imposed a penalty of R$10,000 ($3,190) "for violations of his order." Rio 2016 is challenging the judgment, saying that "it contravenes the host nation agreement" and Brazil’s Olympic law, which bans “flags for purposes other than the festive and friendly event.” The judge disputes this, saying that the law only specifically prohibits offensive, racist, xenophobic or discriminatory messages, and “does not appear to ban peaceful demonstrations of a political nature through posters, use of T-shirts and other lawful means in official sites of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016.” The legal battle will "touch on the thorny issue" of whether the IOC's conditions on host nations "override sovereignty and basic rights." Olympic organizers are "keen to keep Brazil’s political upheaval outside the sporting arenas." The "clampdown is consistent with previous Olympics." Part of the hosting agreement "is a ban on political signs and commercial advertising other than those of the official sponsors" (GUARDIAN, 8/9).
