Jamaica's Usain Bolt said on Friday that athletes want to enjoy
only the competition in this year's Beijing Olympic Games.
Bolt, world championships men's 200m runner-up, said in a Puma
promotion that what athletes focus on is competition instead of
politics.
"I didn't know a lot about that," he said of the decision of
quitting Beijing Olympics by Hollywood movie director Steven
Spielberg and some other Westerners to boycott the Beijing
Games.
"But I think (for athletes) this is mainly about working hard
and getting to the Olympics. And we really look forward to it.
"Everything is really focusing on that. We really want to go out
and compete."
The 21-year-old lost in last year's world championships to Tyson
Gay of the United States, who won a gold medal with world record
breaking performance, but is expecting a gold medal in Beijing.
Bolt's comment echoed what Justine Henin insisted on -- no
politics at the Games.
"Politics and sport must remain separate," the world number one
tennis player said on Tuesday.
"Athletes must be focused on our job which is sport, which is
our passion. We all hope to bring joy to the people watching the
Games.
"Winning in Athens gave me so much pleasure. The Olympics is
very high for me in 2008." she added.
Norway's Kristine Engeset, 19, is also eager to participate in
Beijing Games.
The European junior runner-up in women's 3,000m steeplechase,
also sponsored by Puma, has yet to get through domestic qualifying
but is confident she can make it to Beijing.
"My qualifying will be in June and July, and I've been doing it
for years, to run every good race. I think I will make it." she
said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2008)