IOC acts to avoid Chinese boycott

THE Olympic Games organisers' aid yesterday they would not invite any world political leaders to, Atlanta for the games in an effort to head off any threat of a Chinese boycott.

Organising committee president Billy Payne said he had assured International Olympic Committee chiefs that Atlanta was doing all it could to avoid a potential row with China.

Last month Beijing warned it would make "a strong response" if Taiwanese leaders were invited to, Atlanta for the Olympics, though the statement stopped short of a boycott threat.

Payne said Chinese IOC executive board member He Zhanliang had raised the issue at yesterdays final pre Games briefing to the IOC in Lausanne. "We are working diligently every day to avoid taking steps which would cause us embarrassment in that respect," staid Payne.

He added that organisers had urged the US government and State Department not to do anything which would hinder commitments made to the IOC to allow all members of the Olympic family to attend the Games.

China, which considers Taiwan to be a rebel province, came close to boycotting the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, after Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui was invited to attend. The invitation was later revoked.

Taiwan competes at the Olympics as Chinese Taipei under an IOC flag rather than a national banner. China accepts its right to, take part as an IOC member, but is adamant that political leaders should not use the Games as a potential propaganda vehicle.

"We will make no invitations to any political leaders from anywhere, to avoid political complications," Payne said.

He added that because of recent bomb attacks in various parts of the world, he was doing everything humanly possible" about security at Atlanta.