No call for China boycott – Rogge and Hickey

The issue has arisen following China’s handling of the unrest in Tibet.

But Rogge said he had been “heartened” that major governments were “almost unanimously” against a boycott.

European sports ministers and Olympic committees earlier ruled out any boycott of the Games.

The European officials, meeting in Slovenia, said such political events should not be linked to sport.

“There have been absolutely no calls for a boycott,” said Rogge, “neither emanating from governments, and we have been very heartened by the position of the European Union and the major governments of the world who have all said almost unanimously that boycotts will not be a solution.”

Patrick Hickey, the head of the European Olympic Committees, said boycotts “have never worked”.

He said: “Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984 – the only people punished in a boycott are the athletes.”

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