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Olympic boycott has 'no purpose' | Olympic boycott has 'no purpose' |
(39 minutes later) | |
Any call for a boycott of this summer's Beijing Games would be counter-productive, the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said. | Any call for a boycott of this summer's Beijing Games would be counter-productive, the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said. |
Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president. | Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president. |
It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur. | It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur. |
Tessa Jowell said calls for a boycott were "a great pity" and Britain was still committed to attending the games. | |
The Nobel laureates' letter says Beijing has to ensure its actions live up to the ideals of peace and international co-operation. | The Nobel laureates' letter says Beijing has to ensure its actions live up to the ideals of peace and international co-operation. |
'Unacceptable' | |
But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics. | But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics. |
"Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games. | "Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games. |
"A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur." | "A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur." |
Ms Jowell later told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "I think the boundary between government and sport is one that politicians should cross very carefully." | |
She added that China had a "poor, disturbing record on human rights" but said diplomatic efforts were ongoing, often without any publicity. | |
Freedoms given to journalists during this summer's games "should not and cannot be taken back", Ms Jowell said. | |
Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing. | Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing. |
In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council. | In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council. |
As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur. | As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur. |
On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao. | On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao. |