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No to the Olympics in Beijing
BC-Sports-Olympics-Beijing Protest
Press freedom activists protest Beijing Olympic bid
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) _ Opponents of Beijing's bid to host the
2008 Olympics demonstrated during an international athletics event
Wednesday, saying human rights abuses meant the games should not be
awarded to China.
Two members of Reporters sans Frontieres, or Reporters without Borders, unfurled a banner which read "No to the Olympics in Beijing,"
during the Athletissima Grand Prix meet.
A scuffle ensued in the middle of the stadium between security staff and demonstrators, and one protester was punched in the face by an
official.
Reporters without Borders Asia coordinator Vincent Brossel said the group had chosen to demonstrate in Lausanne because the city is home to
the International Olympic Committee.
"This is the last major sporting event before the 2008 Olympics are awarded, so this protest is taking place at the heart of the Olympic
Movement," he told The Associated Press.
He said the group opposed having the Olympics in Beijing because of China's treatment of dissidents, minorities, and its muzzling of the
press.
"We don't want to make sport the hostage of politics, but in the name of human rights the Olympics cannot be held in Beijing."
The protest took place moments after Athletissima organizers honored IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who steps down in two weeks time.
An IOC congress in Moscow, which begins next week, is set to choose the city to host the 2008 games.
Beijing is favorite to hold the event, ahead of Toronto and Paris.
Istanbul and Osaka, Japan, are the other candidate cities.
--
Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontières
5 rue Geoffroy Marie
75009 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 70
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
asia@rsf.org
www.rsf.org
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ETIC REPORT 2000 
