Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Human rights activists have disrupted the flame lighting ceremony for the Winter Olympics. This was in protest to China hosting the games.  The activists are calling for countries and athletes to boycott the games due to human rights abuses in China. At the same time, British diver Tom Daly is asking IOC to ban countries from competing where being gay is punishable by death. Deputy Head of Sport and Events Management at Bournemouth University Dr Keith Parry told Kate Hawkesby so long as the IOC are not being punished in a financial sense, we can expect to see them continue to claim political neutrality. “It’s always going to be political.” He says “We have seen the greater presence of activism from athletes because they have got more power these days.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.