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IOC, world leaders say no to Beijing Olympics boycott
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Officials of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and many world leaders have voiced their objection to boycotting the Beijing Olympic Games and any attempt to politicize the sports event.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said on Saturday that the IOC had no regrets about its "wise choice" of Beijing to host the 2008 Olympics.

"IOC considers that it made a wise choice in awarding the games to Beijing and we have no regrets," Rogge said in Singapore. He also expressed satisfaction with what China has done for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC's inspection commission for the Beijing Games, expressed strong opposition to politicize the Beijing Games on Thursday, saying the Olympic Games should be reserved for athletes, not politicians.

Former IOC Chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch said on Wednesday that the Tibetan conflict is a political issue, not related to sports and the IOC is a sports organization which cannot settle all things.

Samaranch said he believes the Beijing Olympics will be written into the annals of history in terms of its high quality facilities.

When greeting the arrival of the Beijing Olympic torch at Heathrow Airport on Saturday, British Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said the British government would not boycott the Beijing Olympics and herself would not support any boycott.

Former French sports minister Jean-Francois Lamour said Wednesday in Paris that it would lead to a wrong way to boycott the Beijing Olympics.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that attempts to politicize sports had previously been made in world history, but they had all been doomed to failure.

The president called on athletes of all countries not to fall prey to the instigation of some politicians and participate in the games in August.

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