'US could pull out of Games'

2004-04-28 10:35

London - The United States could withdraw from August's Olympic Games in Athens over fears of terror attacks, American Olympic swimming legend Mark Spitz claimed on Tuesday.

The seven-time gold medallist at the 1972 Games - which was overshadowed by the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian extremists - told BBC radio the administration of President George W Bush would probably not want to risk their athletes' lives with the US presidential election due in November.

"I would say that about six months ago it was highly unlikely (the US would pull out)," Spitz said.

"But each day it becomes more probable than not that ongoing conversations will take place as to how important it is to put athletes in harm's way."

While a spokesperson for the US Olympic Committee said there was no discussion about such a dramatic move at the moment, Spitz thinks that such a move would come late in the day and could provoke other countries to do the same.

"We are looking under the microscope at all the different terrorist acts and we know there is a high degree of probability that something could happen in Athens," he said.

"Would it be political suicide to send a team there if you were the Bush administration?

"If you were to yank the carpet out from under the American team and nothing happened, would that be because they are only after Americans?

"If that does happen it will happen in the 11th hour and 59th minute."

The Games begin on August 13 and run till August 29.

- AFP