British threat to pull out of Olympic games

THE chief executive of the British Olympic Association has threatened to withdraw the British team from the Athens games this summer unless its security can be guaranteed. Amid fears the competitions will be the next target of the al-Qaeda terror group, Simon Clegg, the head of Britain’s Olympic effort, said he was prepared to take the "ultimate sanction".

Intelligence analysts fear the event is this year’s primary target for Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. There is growing speculation that the United States is privately threatening to pull out if security measures are not improved.

In remarks which caused consternation in Athens, Mr Clegg said he was not prepared to compromise the security arrangements of the team.

"If the security situation demanded a change to the position of the BOA with the ultimate sanction of not sending the team, then obviously, as a responsible organisation, that is something we would have to consider," he said in an interview. "We will not compromise the security arrangements for our team where we have responsibility for managing that team at the Olympic Games."

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=323392004

Just kidding.

Along with the U.S., and all those who comprise "The Coalition of the Willing."

The U.S. and Britain caused a lot of the problems with terrorism.

:eyes:

that * wants to boycott the Summer Games because Greece isn;t a member of the "not so willing coalition". After what happened this past year, the IOC should ban both the US and England!

of Americans--these people train for years for that once in a lifetime (OK sometimes twice) Olympic experience. The payoff is that they get to capitalize on that, even if they do not win a medal, for the rest of their lives. They can become coaches, trainers, write a book and other things that will bring them an income.

If theyare not allowed to compete in the Olympics, their careers and the life lines toward making a good living are shot.

The Olympic Games used to be about peoples of the world coming together via the spirit of athletic competition. The reward was to compete for pride of one's country and promote goodwill.

Not book deals and endorsements.

in 1964.

Warring city-states would put aside their differences and showcase their athletes out of a common appreciation for the human body, and athletic achievement.

If the IOC can broker a worldwide truce for two weeks, I'll give a shit about the Olympic Games. Imagine the possibilities... if we can all live in peace for two weeks, dare we dream to make it permanent?

Keep our Olympic competitors from competing. They will just love gw* for the rest of their life. Thanking him for protecting them from the evil forces of the terrorists.

Bush/Blair don't want the bad p.r., especially with an election coming up, so they are looking for an excuse to avoid it altogether. I doubt if they will do it though, as both countries are fairly sports mad. Perhaps they will get a Clear Channel type 7 second delay, to beep out any bad crowd reactions for the T.V. audiences back home.

Where they have been killed!

Pass me some of dat!