LAUSANNE (Switzerland), Oct 24: Athletes have offered their support to International Olympic Committee (IOC) plans to push ahead with next year’s Salt Lake City Winter Games despite the tragic events surrounding the Sept 11 terror attacks.

The IOC Athletes Commission said in a statement on Wednesday, sent to the IOC, that one of the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter is that “the practice of sport is a human right.”

“It is essential that the athletes of the world who meet the qualification criteria and who have trained hard for several years, have the right to participate in the Olympic Games, added the statement.”

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) also said in a statement sent to the IOC on Wednesday that it had “total confidence” in the precautionary security measures being undertaken by the IOC, the Salt Lake Organising Committee, the State of Utah and the Federal Government of the USA ahead of the 2002 Winter Games.

The vote of confidence comes a day after IOC director general Francois Carrard said that nothing short of a third World war could prevent the Games, set to take place from Feb 8 to 24.—Reuters