Egyptian Olympic Committee president voices support for Beijing Olympics
9/5/2008 17:31
Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) President Mounir Sabet yesterday
expressed his support for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, saying that he is
opposed to any boycott of the Games or attempts to mix sports with
politics.
In an interview with Xinhua, Sabet said some countries are trying
to use the Olympics as a weapon to achieve their political objectives, which
goes against the spirit of the Olympic movement.
"Olympics is for the
athletes and the aim of the Olympic Games is to achieve the values of the
Olympic movement by making friends and respecting each other," he
said.
Speaking of recent incidents in China's Tibet autonomous region and
those disturbing the global Olympic torch relay, the Egyptian sports official
said he is opposed to such acts.
"Neither such incidents nor a boycott of the
Games will help solve the Tibet issue," he said, adding that: "There are many
other peaceful ways to express their points of view and solve the
issue."
Sabet said he is confident that the Chinese government will solve the
issue well.
The EOC president praised Beijing for its preparations for the
Games. "The whole world is looking forward to the opening ceremony of the
Games," he said.
Sabet added that the Beijing Organizing Committee of the
29th Olympic Games (BOCOG) had been successful in choosing the most qualified
volunteers and staff for the Games.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian team is busy
getting ready for the upcoming Games.
According to Sabet, 85 Egyptian
athletes in 17 events have so far qualified for the Beijing Games. He added that
more athletes are expected to qualify before the Games open in August.
He
expressed hope that Egypt will win more medals in Beijing than in
Athens.
Egypt won five medals in the 2004 Athens Games -- a gold, a silver
and three bronzes.
Xinhua
|
