British Activists Face Threat of Jail at Olympics

British spectators and athletes have been warned that they face arrest and detention by the Chinese authorities if they stage demonstrations during next month's Beijing Olympics.

Many activists are based in the UK and will be traveling to China as tourists or sports fans, with a number of groups planning protests in Beijing and Hong Kong, which is hosting the equestrian events.

Athletes, meanwhile, have been encouraged by groups including Free Tibet and Team Darfur to use the global platform provided to make political statements at medal ceremonies, during competition or during media appearances. There are genuine concerns in Beijing and within International Olympic Committee circles that the issue could overshadow the Games, which begin on August 8.

In April the Beijing Olympic torch relay through London was repeatedly interrupted by pro-Tibetan activists and the torch was subsequently met by similar protests in Paris and San Francisco.

Yesterday the Foreign Office warned that anyone attempting to protest about sensitive subjects such as the occupation of Tibet or the repression of the Falung Gong spiritual practice is likely to face a hostile reaction. "British nationals should be aware that involvement in demonstrations or distributing political leaf-lets without application is not tolerated and they could be arrested," a spokeswoman said.

Some 35,000 tickets have been sold to Britons via the British Olympic Association but many have gone to families and friends of athletes. As few as 1,000 have bought official Olympic tours from the BOA's licensed UK travel company but the number could swell to 15,000 when expatriates and tourists are included.

The Foreign Office is not issuing specific advice for the 313 British athletes but it has drawn their attention to the IOC's charter, which prohibits athletes from indulging in "territorial, political, religious propaganda" in areas controlled by the IOC, including stadia and the Olympic village.

The Free Tibet movement has urged athletes supportive of its cause to make 'T for Tibet' signs with their hands. Team Darfur, meanwhile, a coalition opposed to China's close ties to the Sudanese regime, claims to have signed up 73 athletes.

As previously revealed by the Guardian, senior IOC figures are deeply concerned that protests by athletes could prompt a public backlash from China, already riding a wave of nationalism as the Games approach.

The Foreign Office's warning comes as Beijing revealed that it will set up three "protest pens" where activists will be able to stage demonstrations. It was unclear last night whether Chinese nationals would be able to use the pens or what causes will be acceptable to the authorities.

The idea, which was immediately condemned by organizations including Human Rights Watch, is an attempt to compromise between the Chinese hard-line approach and the freedom to demonstrate demanded by critics of Beijing.

Nicholas Bequelin, a spokesman for HRW, said: "The obstacles and deterrents are so high as to negate the right to demonstrate. We are also concerned about the possibility that the authorities might use the existence of these zones to justify repressive measures outside of the zones. Aggressive or systematic videotaping, requirement for individual registrations and excessive controls at the entry and exit points of the zones would amount to deterring protesters, who have legitimate concerns in China about possible retaliation afterwards."

When China won the right to host the Games, its government promised to use the occasion to roll back restrictive legislation and further the cause of human rights but observers, including Amnesty International, contend that repression has heightened as the Games approach.