BEIJING -- Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), said Friday political issues should not be associated with the Olympic Games.
"All the political issues that have nothing to do with the Olympics shall not be associated with the Beijing Games. The attempt to boycott the Beijing Games for such excuses is improper and unpopular," said Liu.
Liu made the remarks when answering a question on the boycott attempt by some people at a press conference on the sidelines of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
"As the organizer of the 2008 Olympic Games, we advocate the Olympic spirit and carry forward the guidelines of peace, friendship and development. We want the Games to be the world's gathering of peace and friendship," he said.
Beijing Olympic organizers believe the Games would greatly improve understanding and friendship between Chinese people and people in the rest of the world, Liu added.
Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Monday "we will ... ensure the success of the 2008 Olympic Games" while delivering a report that charters the roadmap for China in the years to come.
