Presence at opening is right move, says Cullen

CHINA OLYMPICS:ATTENDING THE opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was the right decision for Ireland, Minister for Sport Martin Cullen said yesterday, writes Michael O'Regan.

Mr Cullen will represent the Government at the Olympics, despite speculation that he might stay away as a protest against China's human rights record. He said he recognised that there were issues in China, as well as many other countries, and Ireland would pursue them through the EU and elsewhere with China. "Obviously, we want to see progress on human rights issues," he added.

Mr Cullen said it was important to attend, given Ireland's interest in the Far East and in developing relationships with China.

He said the EU countries had been dealing with the matter on a collective basis, and the Government, earlier this year, had taken the attitude that it would see how things progressed. "The fact of the matter is that every European country is attending the opening ceremony," he added. He was speaking at a press conference in Dublin where he announced sporting grants.