Linford Christie Not Chosen As Favourite British Olympic Winner

Linford Christie was the 1992 Olympic 100m winner. But he has been found not suitable as one of Britain's favourite Olympic winners to be used on 2012 Olympic lottery scratch cards. These special scratch cards are a campaign of the National Lottery to raise an estimated £750 million for the London Olympics.

The British Olympic Association excluded him because he had been banned for life in 1999 after failing a drugs test.

Christie is not amused, and this is further aggravation on top of his not having been selected in the Olympic torch relay in April. For that exclusion, he pointed his finger at British racism.

Linford Christie at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics



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British Gold Medallist Linford Christie Says to Ignore Politics at Olympics

British Gold Medallist Linford Christie Says to Ignore Politics at Olympics

Linford Christie, 47, who won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics for the 100 metre sprint, has called on athletes to concentrate on their sport in the Beijing Olympics. He will be in Beijing as a coach.

China's politics, foreign policy and human rights record have caused some people to make critical comments.

The British Olympic Association want competitors to stay away from political demonstrations and propaganda. This has not gone down well with some, who say that athletes like anybody else must enjoy free speech.

I think it's right that every one should enjoy free speech, but it would be deceptive to go to a host country in the role of an Olympian athlete and then cause political friction. I think Christie's attitude is the right one.

Sports and Politics
Keeping Sports and Politics Separate