Dalai Lama: Visit canceled after Chinese pressure

Friday, January 23, 2009

The Associated Press
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

File Photo: His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Dalai Lama won't come to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho after the Chinese government threatened to shut down training centers and have athletes from the country boycott the event.

Organizers of the games, which run from Feb. 7-13 in venues including Sun Valley, had announced earlier this month the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader wasn't coming, but didn't give a reason.

The Dalai Lama's offices in New York Thursday said World Winter Games organizers suggested he skip the Feb. 7 opening ceremony and watch the final two days instead, following the pressure from the Chinese.

That wasn't possible due to prior commitments, spokesman Lobsang Nyandak said.

"It is important to realize if the people in a free and democratic society kowtow to the political pressure, we are emboldening the other side in their wrongdoings," Nyandak said.