The IOC does not have the right to handcuff the rights afforded to us through the Charter.

This will be very interesting.  I am particularly intrigued by this statement by UBC Professor Chris Shaw:

“I want to be able to express my dissent.  I do intend to hand out leaflets. I may stand there with a protest banner. I may want to engage tourists in conversations. I want to be able to do all those things that I am guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

As I understand it, the intent behind the restrictions on handing out pamphlets are premised on the ability to maintain the exclusivity of those organizations that have paid millions to be official Olympic sponsors, not to muffle free speech.

Regardless, the economic protection of the IOC and its sponsors should have no ability to infringe on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to make on-site evaluations that decipher between piggyback advertising from expressions of free speech.

The IOC is not above the laws of the land, and the Supreme Court of BC should hear this case as soon as possible.