Olympics chief rejects boycott over Tibet
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (AP) — The president of the International Olympic Committee rejected the idea of boycotting the Summer Games in Beijing over China’s crackdown in Tibet, saying it would only hurt athletes.
We believe that the boycott doesn’t solve anything, Jacques Rogge told reporters Saturday on this Caribbean island.
Demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet on Friday — the most violent riots there in nearly two decades — left at least 10 protesters dead, according to official Chinese reports.
China ordered tourists out of Tibet’s capital and troops patrolled the streets on Saturday.
On a six-day tour of the Caribbean, Rogge expressed condolences for the victims and said he hopes calm will be restored immediately. He declined to say whether the committee would change its stance if violence continues or more people are killed. E-mail to a friend
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