Posted on 02/08/2008 8:45:00 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
MPs turn down invitations to Olympics
08.02.2008 Print article (IE & NS 4+)
China's human rights record has a number of MPs planning to stage a personal boycott of the Beijing Summer Olympics
Danish elite sports organisations have invited prominent MPs to join them for a week in Beijing in conjunction with the Olympics. However, many politicians have turned down the invites due to China's questionable human rights record.
Team Danmark, one of the organisations issuing the invitations, organises the overall planning of elite sports in Denmark, including training and coaching of top athletes and the cultural and political development of elite sports.
The other is the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark.
Pernille Frahm, of the Socialist People's Party, one of the MPs who criticised Crown Prince Frederik for announcing that he would attend Beijing Olympics, said that human rights concerns were her reason for rejecting the invitation.
"I cannot, on the one hand, urge Crown Prince Frederik not to attend, and on the other hand turn up myself," she told public broadcaster DR. "Besides, aren't the organisations supposed to use their money on sports?"
Spokespersons from the Red-Green Alliance and Danish People's Party echoed Frahm's views.
Simon Emil Ammitzb?, sports spokesperson of the Social-Liberal Party, said he was leaning towards a personal boycott.
The only two parties with positive responses to the invitations were the Conservatives and the Social Democrats.
Flemming M?ler Mortensen, sports spokesperson with the Social Democrats said the party would use the Olympics as an opportunity to share their views on China and human rights issues.
Troels Christensen, of the prime minister's Liberal Party, was still on the fence, saying that on the one hand he did not want to 'mix sports and politics' but on the other that he was concerned with China's human rights record.
Ping!
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