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| April 10, 2008 |
CHINA has warned the Olympics governing body to keep "irrelevant political factors" away from the Games, after its chief urged Beijing to honour pledges to improve human rights.International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge yesterday said protests dogging the torch relay had left the Games in crisis and publicly reminded China of its promise to advance human rights.
Dr Rogge said Chinese officials had promised, when they made their bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, that being awarded the Games would "advance the social agenda of China, including human rights".
"We definitely ask China to respect this moral engagement," he said.
The IOC has so far steered clear of joining international pressure on China over its crackdown on Tibet and human rights concerns.
But Dr Rogge, after witnessing violent scenes at torch relay legs in London, Paris and San Francisco, appeared compelled to raise the issue as the IOC executive board met in Beijing.