The British Olympic Association (BOA) wanted athletes to sign contracts with a clause demanding that they were 'not to comment on politically sensitive issues' -- they were threatened with exclusion from the games if they refused to comply.

The Olympics are intended to be a non-political event -- section 51 of the International Olympic Committee charter 'provides for no kind of demonstration, or political, religious or racial propaganda in the Olympic sites, venues or other areas.'

"The reality is, given the level of political scrutiny of the world's media on these games and the way China will handle them, the BOA felt it was sensible and proper to flag that rule to our athletes," said Graham Mewson, communications director for the BOA.

“There are all sorts of organisations who would like athletes to use the Olympic Games as a vehicle to publicise their causes," said Simon Clegg, BOA chief executive.

“I don't believe that is in the interest of the team's performance."

“As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct.”

But the BOA's draconian tactics attracted widespread derision -- as well as reviving uncomfortable memories of the English football team giving Nazi salutes at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

"If Simon Clegg and the BOA don't want to end up as despised as those who told our footballers to make Nazi salutes, he and his cronies should put those contracts where they belong", said David Mellor, former Conservative sports minister.

"Down the nearest lavatory."

"It's part of a pattern of us kow-towing to the Chinese communist authorities," said Nick Clegg (no relation), leader of the Liberal Democrats.

"They now play a significant role in the world economy and international affairs."

"That brings certain domestic responsibilities with it and I think for us to gag ourselves is a real abdication of our moral responsibility to push for human rights wherever they are being abused."

The BOA dramatically revised that position after the move attracted such widespread derision.

"I accept that the interpretation of one part of the draft BOA's Team Members Agreement appears to have gone beyond the provision of the Olympic charter," explained Simon Clegg in a statement.

"This is not our intention nor is it our desire to restrict athletes' freedom of speech and the final agreement will reflect this."

The BOA's climbdown was welcomed by human rights campaigners.

"We are delighted that good sense and better legal advice seem to be prevailing at the British Olympic Association," said Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty.

"We have no doubt that Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which protects free speech, would have rendered the clause unenforceable."