Athletes at the Winter Olympics in Beijing have been told to stay silent, and been warned they could be punished for behaviour that is contrary to the Olympic spirit or is against Chinese rules.
A leading human rights organisation has advised those planning to travel to China for either games – the Olympics and the Paralympics that follow – that they will not be protected if they speak out about the treatment of the Uighur minority of other perceived abuses.
However, it has not been specified what sanctions might be applied. One suggestion is that competitors may see their accreditation removed.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has referred to its guidelines that protect the neutrality of the Games, and of sports more broadly.
Last summer, the IOC relaxed its rules on protest ahead of the Tokyo Olympics to the extent that athletes were allowed to express personal opinions during press conferences. However, political demonstrations like the iconic Black Power salute given by two runners in the 200m at Mexico City in 1968 are still banned.
Some critics have argued that athletes are being put in an almost impossible position. They are being forced to curb their freedom of speech in order to ensure their personal safety.
And it may be argued that the IOC, by enforcing neutrality, is in effect being complicit with the policies of the Chinese government.
There is precedent as well. History does not look kindly on the hundreds of athletes who performed the Nazi salute when the Summer Games of 1936 were held in Berlin.
Athletes, of course, have a choice. Those who feel strongly enough about the matter can simply refuse to compete in Beijing. However, that will be asking a many young athletes who have trained years and sacrificed so much for this one opportunity.
It is definitely better not to have to put them in this moral dilemma by staging international events in countries which are more open and transparent.
The Beijing Games may go off without a hitch. However, despite the picture painted for the world, what is going on behind the scenes is likely to be quite different.