Paris 2012 will feature a number of initiatives at the 2005 Tennis French Open at the Roland-Garros stadium complex May 23 to June 5, to show the French Federation of Tennis’ support for the Paris 2012 Summer Olympic Games bid.
There will be displays of support from the public, stadium employees and competing athletes; the centre court and other focal areas will be decorated with the Paris 2012 logo and motto “L’Amour des Jeux”; and two mobile studios positioned around the complex will offer all those attending the events an opportunity to show their support for the bid.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that Sikh leaders in Britain have written all the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members urging them not to vote for Paris.
According to the Guardian they claim that the controversial French law banning the Sikh dastar (turban) along with other religious articles of faith in schools is discriminatory and that Paris does not deserve the Games.
The Sikh Federation of UK chairman Amrik Singh wrote in a letter to IOC members. “we publicly stated that, if the law in France was implemented to deny Sikh children the right to wear the turban, we would have little choice but to lobby against the Paris bid for 2012. In a meeting at the French Embassy in London in January 2004 we informed them that we meant business. We believe it is inconceivable for such a prestigious international event to be hosted in a country where the laws infringe the basic human right of religious freedom”.
The federation has urged other religious groups to boycott Paris’ bid as well as calling for a boycott of French goods and an international embargo on the purchase of defence equipment.
