President George Bush met with International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and other Olympic officials Tuesday. Bush turned down an IOC request for a military truce during the Salt Lake Winter Games, but said he will submit a U.N. resolution on Dec. 11, calling for athletes to travel safely to and from the Games. The resolution will advocate safe passage of Olympic athletes and urge nations to compete peacefully.
An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the resolution would not contain the word “truce” or address a cease-fire.
Afghanistan is the only nation barred from participating in the Winter Games. The country was suspended two years ago after the ruling Taliban would not allow female athletes to compete.
Rogge said, “we would love to see an Afghan team at the next Olympic Games, but that will only be possible when there is a stable government in place, and when all the conditions that are put by the (IOC) are fulfilled”.
Bush also met with U.S. Olympic Committee president Sandy Baldwin, CEO Lloyd Ward, Salt Lake Olympics head Mitt Romney and a few Olympic athletes to discuss security for the Games.
Ward said, “there’s no question after (Sept. 11) our view of security in the United States, and I would suggest, in the world is different. We have taken every effort to provide a secure, competitive environment for all participants, spectators and sponsors, and we feel we have a very solid plan”.
Rogge predicted that not a single athlete or national Olympic committee would boycott the Games for political reasons, or skip them because of security concerns.
Bush has been invited to the Feb. 8 opening ceremony and Vice President Dick Cheney is expected at the Feb. 24 closing ceremony.
Romney, a former classmate of Bush’s at Harvard Business School, presented the president with an Olympic torch and ski jackets.
