It is with great regret that the Republic of Belarus has taken the appeals of the leaders of some states to boycott the 29^th Summer Olympic Games in Beijing (China).

I believe that such actions illustrate the willingness of short-sighted policy-makers to turn the world’s Olympic movement into a mechanism of gross interference in home affairs of the sovereign state.

I am confident that nonparticipation of athletes in the Games will prove extremely detrimental to both athletes themselves, and Olympic ideas and principles.

Such attempts to politicise sport have already taken place in world history. However, all of them were doomed to failure because it is impossible to stop the development of the Olympic movement.

Olympic Games are a shared asset of the humanity; they help unite peoples and preserve peace in the world.

I take the destructive statements as an attempt to exert pressure on the friendly and diligent people of China, who have done their utmost so that the Beijing Games could become a momentous event of the 21^st century. We have no doubts whatsoever that the Chinese side will take all necessary measures to ensure security for the participants and guests of the Olympiad.

I call upon athletes of all countries of the world not to respond to the provocation of certain policy-makers and take part in the Games and achieve your best in your sport.

I am confident that the Beijing Olympiad will make athletes of all countries still more united under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee and will serve the cause of preserving Olympic values for the world community.

Alexander Lukashenko