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LAUSANNE - The International Olympic Committee has rejected an attempt by Tibet to field its own team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
More than 100 Tibet supporters - including some Buddhist monks - waved banners and Tibetan flags outside the IOC headquarters today, as delegates from the unofficial Tibetan National Olympic Committee met with the organisation's officials to discuss the request.
"The IOC is not in a position to accept our application," said Wangpo Tethong, a president of the Tibetan group.
Michel Filliau, a senior IOC official who took part in the meeting, said a rule change in 1996 meant only national committees from countries recognised by the international community can take part in the Olympics.
A special exemption is granted to those territories whose national committees were recognised before 1996, said Filliau, who directs the IOC's relations with national committees.
The Palestinian territories, Hong Kong and Taiwan - which competes as Chinese Taipei - are among those that benefit.
The possibility of a Tibetan participating as an "independent Olympic athlete" also won't happen, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said.
"In this particular case, athletes from the region would fall under the National Olympic Committee of China," Davies said.
- AP
