http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/05/28/95-Syria-says-UK-has-no-right-to-ban-athletes-from-London-2012-Olympic.html

Syria says 'UK has no right' to ban athletes from London 2012 Olympic

Damascus, May 28 (ANI): A Syrian official has said that Britain 'has no right' to ban their athletes from taking part in the London 2012 Olympic games.

UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg recently said that Syrian delegates with connections to the regime would be denied entry.

His comments came after Syria denied any involvement in the massacre of 108 civilians in Houla.

Mowaffak Joma, chairman of the Syrian Olympic committee, however, said the Olympic charter forbids host countries from banning athletes.

"The authority of any host country is limited to organising and offering all necessary facilities to all participating athletes," the BBC quoted Joma, as saying.

"If the British government has decided to ban anyone connected to the regime and to President Bashar-al Assad, I am telling you in advance they should ban all Syrian citizens, because we all support President Assad and support Syria," he added.

Joma also said that it had been agreed with the International Olympics Committee (IOC) two weeks ago during a meeting in Russia that Syrian athletes would compete under the country's official flag of state, and not of the opposition and its army. (ANI)