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'Olympic boycott no solution'
23/04/2008 12:10 - (SA)
Beijing - Fifa president Sepp Blatter has reiterated his opposition to a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, saying it would do nothing to benefit sport.
"Fifa's position in all questions of boycott has always been the same - a boycott will never add anything, especially not to sport," he said in comments posted on the Fifa website.
"It does not exist in the Fifa philosophy and in the competition. We are here on a platform of sport and football."
Blatter, in Beijing to attend Sunday's draw for the Olympic football tournament, said that despite widespread international outrage over Beijing's repression of protests in Tibet, "I do not comment on issues in the international media".
"But if you have an Olympic torch that represents a message of Olympic spirit and it is not possible that this torch can tour around the world, then something is wrong in the world," he added.
The torch, symbol of the Beijing Games, is currently in Malaysia as part of a world tour that was severely disrupted in Europe and the United States by protesters complaining over China's rule in Tibet and its human rights record.
Blatter said that despite the events of the past weeks, he was convinced the Olympics would be a huge success.
"We have no concerns about bringing our teams here and to play in this competition," he said.
"I have now worked 32 years for Fifa and all the competitions I have witnessed so far have been huge successes. Beijing 2008 will also be a huge success."
Sixteen men's teams and 12 women's teams will take part in the Olympic football tournament from August 6-23, played in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.
- AFP
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