Jacques Rogge (IOC President) - In a CMC Interview

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge is optimistic Beijing will overcome the current Tibet crisis and stage a successful Olympic Games this summer.

 

Tibet's largest anti-China protests in almost two decades broke out on March 10, sparking riots in Lhasa, demonstrations in nearby ethnic Tibetan provinces, and daily pro-Tibet protests around the world.

 

And speaking in an exclusive domestic interview with CMC Sport on Monday night, Rogge said he felt uneasy but hopeful that the authorities would settle the issue.

 

“We are concerned of course and we have also called for a rapid appeasement of this situation, we believe that the games will be a success and that the Chinese will deliver a good Games,” Rogge told CMC Sport.

 

“But of course what has happened is something we want resolved as soon as possible,” Rogge added.

 

After just over a week, security forces have regained control of the city, making it impossible for anyone to hold a rally.

 

House-to-house searches have also been occurring and a number of former political prisoners were reported to have been detained again.

 

The exiled Tibetan government says at least 80 protesters died in the Chinese crackdown.

 

Rogge also spoke about the issue of air pollution in Beijing, another subject that has plagued China’s build up to making a success out of the 2008 Olympic Games from August 8-24.

 

China's rapid economic and industrial growth has seen a marked increase in pollution levels in recent years. An estimated 1,000 new cars are introduced to Beijing's streets every day.

 

Rogge is encouraged that several measures being applied to alleviate the problem this summer - including the planting millions of trees, factory shutdowns and temporary bans on people using their cars - are resulting in improved air quality conditions.

 

“We have been heartened by the results of a survey that we have conducted in the last weeks, which seem to indicate that things (will be) really manageable at Games time,” Rogge said.

 

The IOC chief has been on an official visit to the Caribbean. He arrived in Barbados Monday night from Trinidad and Tobago and his engagements here included the inauguration of the Barbados Olympic Centre Tuesday evening.

 

CMC lw/08