Romania To Attend Beijing Olympics

"After today’s consultations, between the president of Romania, Traian Basescuand the president of the Romanian Olympic Committee, Octavian Morariu, the committee reconfirms the participation of Romanian athletes in the Olympic Games held in Beijing this year. During talks held with the president of the committee, Traian Basescu reiterates his wish to prevent politics from having effects on Romania’s participation in the Olympics, thus avoiding the possibilities of doubt in this respect, which might have negative effects on the training of our athletes," the committee said.

A boycott on the Olympic Games was considered after the Tibet incidents, which broke out in March. The capital of Tibet, Lhasa, was the scene for violent protesting initiated on March 14 by the Buddhist monks against the authoritarian Chinese regime, which resorted to harsh repression measures. China said that 19 protesters died in the conflict, while the exile Tibetan government announced 140 victims.

So far, there have not been any authorities, governments or sports structures expressing a clear stance regarding a potential boycott of the Olympic Games. The only ones who called on this boycott were militants, celebrities and even several athletes. Protesters include French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, movie director Steven Spielberg or actors Mia Farrow and Richard Gere, the latter being a great defender of the Tibetan cause. In addition, French president Nicolas Sarkozy did not rule out the possibility of boycotting the Olympics in Beijing, stating that "all options remain open."

On the other hand, many western personalities, but also the Dalai Lama, rejected this option for the moment. The Tibetan spiritual leader, denouncing the “regime of terror” imposed by the Chinese said Beijing deserves to host the Olympic Games and that he wants these games, because the Chinese people needs to feel proud.

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