Olympic boycott is ruled out

American athletes will definitely compete at the Beijing Olympics despite recent violence in Tibet and calls for a boycott, the United States Olympic Committee confirmed.

'There is absolutely no consideration being given to the idea of forgoing the Olympic Games,' USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said. There is widespread understanding and recognition that boycotts accomplish absolutely nothing other than unfairly penalising athletes.

'It's important to keep in mind what the Olympic movement stands for. This is an opportunity for our world to come together.

'Those opportunities are more necessary and important in our world today than ever before.'

The USOC's position is in line with the EU and the International Olympic Committee.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said during a visit to Port of Spain, Trinidad that no governments had called for a boycott of the Beijing Games over China's crackdown on protests in Tibet.

'There have been absolutely no calls for a boycott, neither emanating from governments, and we have been very heartened by the position of the European Union and the major governments of the world who have all said almost unanimously that boycotts will not be a solution,' Rogge said.

The United States and the EU called on China to exercise restraint while the United Nations expressed concerns.

The 1976, 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics were all marred by boycotts.

The 1976 Montreal Games were boycotted by 28 African nations after the IOC refused to ban New Zealand for allowing the All Blacks rugby team to tour apartheid South Africa.

The US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics in protest against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan which was followed by a Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.