Olympic Committee “glad” Argentina will avoid politically tainted demonstrations

Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 02:55 UTC

Full article 79 comments

IOC president Jacques Rogge satisfied following contacts with Argentine government and Olympic committee

The head of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge assured he was “glad” that President Cristina Fernández had called the Argentine athletes to avoid demonstrations over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute during the Olympic Games of London 2012.

“I'm happy to say that Argentina's Head of State said that the Olympics are not an occasion to make political demonstrations of any kind,” said IOC's president during a press conference in London, where the Games will begin on Friday.

In the year of the 30 anniversary of the Falklands/ Malvinas War, the government unveiled a video a few months ago in which a player of the field hockey national's men team was training in the Islands.

“To compete in English soil, we train in Argentine soil,” read the polemic ad which led to a protest of the British government and a conflict at the IOC.

“We talked with the Argentine committee and with the government about this issue,” Rogge assured, as he later stated that he did not have any contact with Cristina Fernández

Categories: Politics, Argentina, Falkland Islands, International, Entertainment.

Tags: 2012 Olympic Games, Falkland Islands, Falklands / Malvinas, Falklands’ conflict 30th anniversary, International Olympic Committee.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Boovis
In other words they told them to effing behave themselves or they'd be booted out.
Jul 23rd, 2012 - 03:14 am 0
Pete Bog
It seems they have the sense to backpeddle without having the guts to admit they screwed up in the first place.

A lot of behind the scenes diplomacy versus CFK's uncontrollable mouth.
Jul 23rd, 2012 - 06:46 am 0
LEPRecon
Well thevArgentine's have promised to behave, but they make many promises that they have broken.

I hope the Argentine athletes are above the cheap politics of CFK and her cronies and have a good games. This is about competing with your peers in friendship, and while it's nice to win, surely it's the honour is representing your country that's important.

However if Argentina does misbehave then poor Mr Rogge might get cramp writing out all those disqualifications, plus they'll forfeit any medals they would've won.
Jul 23rd, 2012 - 07:47 am 0

Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!