The Olympics are, first and foremost, about sports. That’s why people watch them — to see the best athletes in the world excel, break records and show us what the human body is truly capable of. The audience is not tuning in to see protestors arguing for or against any cause.  

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Charter prohibits any “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda on any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas.”

The city of Vancouver has complied by creating Free Speech Zones (FSZ) throughout the city.

FSZs are to be in high-profile areas close to the action so protestors will get their limelight — just not the way they’re used to.

FSZs will keep all the protestors in one area, allowing the public unobstructed access to events, while still providing a venue for placards. Anyone interested in hearing the protesters will be free to, and without a doubt the media will frequent these areas looking for stories. 

They are similar to the protest zones at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but not as restrictive. In China, citizens have to apply for permission to protest from their local Public Security Bureau. 

Requests are rarely granted, allowing the Chinese government to monitor what is being protested. In Canada, those restrictions won’t be in place.

Yes, the concept of FSZs may infringe free speech. But, unlike Beijing, protesters can still say what they want. They just can’t say it wherever they want to.

But how effective are protests these days, anyway? They’ve become like the bunnies on campus: so common that most people don’t even bother paying attention to them anyway. Do protests really make a difference in the end? Do they even belong at a sporting event?

It’s been argued that the Olympics are only going to portray the good side of Vancouver and B.C., while ignoring the many problems. But what’s wrong with showcasing the good parts of Vancouver and B.C.? 

The Olympics should be about the athletes and the sports they are performing. It is about bringing the nations of the world together to create those international connections and to keep people coming back to the beautiful province we live in.