BOLLYWOOD STAR KHAN WON’T BOYCOTT OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
Bollywood superstar AAMIR KHAN has spurned calls for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics - insisting he will take part in India’s torch relay "with a prayer in his heart" for the people of Tibet.
The 43-year-old announced his decision to take part in China’s Olympic procession, even though the event has been denounced by his peers in protest of the communist country’s political oppression in Tibet.
The Earth actor’s decision comes just days after Indian soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s refusal to take the torch when it arrives in New Dehli, India, later this month (Apr08).
In an open letter on his website, Khan tells fans he had been begged by friends, family and peers not to take part, but in the end decided to go ahead with the relay: "I feel the Olympic Games do not belong to China." The star adds "the Tibetan struggle" will be at the forefront of his mind, insisting he has "the highest regard and respect for the struggle that the people of Tibet are going through".
The torch is expected to arrive in India on 17 April (08), as part of the longest ever torch relay - lasting 130 days and passing through 19 countries.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
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