Steve Stoute, president of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), rubbished the thought and advised that where problems arose in the international Olympic movement he favoured dialogue over a boycott.

China has been under international pressure over its human rights record and its role in the present conflict in Tibet has served to increase calls in many quarters for a Games boycott.

But speaking to the WEEKEND NATION, Stoute, an internationally respected administrator, said Barbados planned to attend the Games in full regalia.

"The best way to deal with this is to attend the Olympic Games. If I were a head of state my approach would be to attend the Games and use it as a mechanism to try and make change."

He added: "I have found that dealing with the Chinese administration even on the smallest of matters, they need considerable dialogue in order to initiate change. The best way to deal with matters is dialogue."

Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee president, echoed Stoute's sentiments.

"You don't obtain anything in China with a loud voice. Otherwise the Chinese will close themselves. That is what is happening today. There is a lot of protest, a lot of very strong verbal power, and the Chinese, they close themselves," he said in a statement to the international media.

Over the past few months Beijing's preparations have been overshadowed by the torch relay's troubled journey around the globe with several protests in major international cities. Stoute said this had pained him somewhat.

"I am saddened. The Olympic Torch is supposed to be a symbol of peace but it has been marred with confrontation and controversy," he said.

The Summer Olympics have been visited by politics before: In Berlin in 1936 Jesse Owens ran in the face
of Adolf Hitler's supremacist dogma; the famous Black Power salute of John Carlos and Tommie Smith in Mexico City in 1968; the infamous terrorists attack in Munich in 1972; and the boycotts of Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984.

Earlier this week Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate in the United States election urged President George W. Bush to boycott the Beijing Games opening ceremony on August 8 unless China "improves human rights".

"At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent of major changes by the Chinese government," the New York Senator said.

However, in its editorial the People's Daily in Beijing noted: "Although a few people with ulterior motives have tried to interfere with and vilify the Beijing Olympics . . . this can never alter the determination of the 1.3 billion Chinese to successfully hold the Games for the world." (PS)