Tibetan, Xinjiang NPC Deputies Support Beijing's Olympic Bid

Lawmakers from Tibet and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have voiced their support to Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"Tibet also has a stake in Beijing's Olympic bid," said Lozum, a Tibetan deputy to the ongoing annual session of the Ninth National People's Congress NPC). "We pray for Beijing's success and we hope to see Tibetan players at the Beijing Olympic Games."

As a deputy head of the Nationalities Sub-Committee of Lhasa Municipal People's Congress, Lozum said it is an honor for the whole Chinese nation if Beijing hosts the Olympic games."

He said that it was a big news for Tibet when the central government has decided to build the Qinghai-Tibet railway and that will benefit the Tibetan people, and make it easier for Tibetans to come to Beijing for the 2008 games.

Living Buddha Yunzum Gawa said Tibetans would be very much disappointed if Beijing is denied of the opportunity to host the 2008 Olympic games.

"We Tibetans love sports and we are eager to see and participate in an Olympic games in our country," he said.

Alebusby Rahm, a deputy from Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, said: "As a citizen of the People's Republic of China, I support Beijing's Olympic bid, as it shows the international status of our country."

The central government's policy in Xinjiang is very good. Xinjiang people are satisfied. The tiny number of separatists cannot represent the Xinjiang people, he said.

Ismail Hatip, a deputy from Urumqi, said "Olympics is not merely a grand sports gathering. It benefits the society in all aspects and it is also beneficial to the development of Xinjiang."

It was learned that Tibet and Xinjiang have organized a variety of activities in support of Beijing's bid.

There are many athletes from Tibet and Xinjiang representing China in international events and they have even won medals.

The deputies believe that the success of Beijing's Olympic bid will help boost sports in Tibet and Xinjiang and improve the physique of the people in these economically less-developed regions.






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