“If the debate does then spread to involve the athlete,then they don’t deserve to carry that burden. They will be in China simply to do their very best when they get their opportunity to compete at an Olympic Games.”

Few appear to be in favour of an athlete boycott of the Games,as was the case in Moscow in 1980,where many of Australia’s athletes were treated as pariahs for competing under an Olympic flag. Sebastian Coe,the head of World Athletics,has described the notion as a “meaningless gesture”.

That leaves open the option of protest on the ground in China,with athletes allowed to spread their message within the IOC’s new guidelines that came into play in Tokyo. That excludes the podium but includes the field of play before competition,during interviews,press conferences and through traditional and social media.

Lipshut said Australia’s athletes had been well-educated in the IOC rules and he encouraged them to have a voice on important issues if they felt the need to speak out. He also said they needed to respect the IOC constraints and the host nation.

“Athletes can have their own voice. That is clear and we encourage athletes to have a voice. But I would remind everyone that we have to be respectful of our hosts,we are guests in China,so there are appropriate times and places. That’s up to each athlete,” Lipshut said.

“There has been a number of sessions educating the athletes. That has all been made really,really clear. And we are open to anything any of the athletes want to talk about.”

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