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Olympic boycott has 'no purpose' Jowell supports pressure on China
(about 4 hours later)
Any call for a boycott of this summer's Beijing Games would be counter-productive, the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said. Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has backed using the run-up to the Beijing Games to urge China to do more to improve the situation in Darfur.
Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president. She said it was "reasonable" to put pressure on China to use its influence on the Sudanese government to end the humanitarian crisis.
It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur. But Ms Jowell said any boycott of this year's Olympics would be a "great pity" and not "serve any purpose".
Tessa Jowell said calls for a boycott were "a great pity" and Britain was still committed to attending the games. An estimated 200,000 have died in fighting in Darfur since 2003.
The Nobel laureates' letter says Beijing has to ensure its actions live up to the ideals of peace and international co-operation. About 2.5 million people have been displaced.
'Unacceptable' Letter
But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics. Pressure on the Chinese authorities to take action has increased this week.
Film director Steven Spielberg resigned as an artistic director of the Beijing Games.
And a group of Nobel Prize-winners and athletes sent a letter to the Chinese president, asking him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur.
A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister
Ms Jowell told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I certainly think it's reasonable to use this window to encourage China to act as a responsible global citizen."
But she added: "I think the boundary between government and sport is one that politicians should cross very carefully."
Ms Jowell said China had a "poor, disturbing record on human rights" but said diplomatic efforts were ongoing, often without any publicity.
Freedoms given to journalists during the Games "should not and cannot be taken back", Ms Jowell said.
Earlier, Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics.
'Urgency of Darfur'
"Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games."Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games.
"A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur.""A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur."
Ms Jowell later told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "I think the boundary between government and sport is one that politicians should cross very carefully."
She added that China had a "poor, disturbing record on human rights" but said diplomatic efforts were ongoing, often without any publicity.
Freedoms given to journalists during this summer's games "should not and cannot be taken back", Ms Jowell said.
Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.
In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.
As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur.As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur.
On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao.On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao.