The Dalai group's efforts in calling for a boycott of the Olympic Games and its attempts to sabotage the Olympic torch relay will only make itself less popular among the people, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:

After Cering Wangmo, the Tibetan female climber, held high her "Lucky Cloud" torch on the top of Mount Qomolangma, the highest mountain in the world, thousands of people watching her on TV were moved to tears.

The Olympic flame started its journey from Athens, Greece, spreading the spirit of "peace, friendship and progress" despite attempts to sabotage it by supporters of the so-called "Tibet independence" movement.

The Olympic Games originated from an ancient gathering determined to hold sporting competitions, free from politics, war and hatred. From its history, it is easy to see that it stands for the common pursuit of peace.

This was the wish of athletes from around the world who gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland, to express their full support for the Olympic Games to be held in Beijing.

Despite the wishes of the people, the Dalai group saw the Olympic Games as a "good opportunity" to "force the central government to settle the Tibet issue in 2008 or in the next two years".

It organized a wide range of activities, the boycott call, the disruption of the torch relay, and setting up a so-called "Tibet Organizing Committee for Olympic Games".

These activities have been condemned by the Chinese people and all peace-loving people around the world. It is also proof that the attempt to politicize the Games goes against the people's love for peace and sports.

Hosting the Games is a mission entrusted to China and an opportunity for Chinese people to meet the athletes and friends from across the world with kindness.

Any effort to ruin the big event is doomed to fail for it is against the trend of the times as well as the wishes of the people.

(China Daily 05/17/2008 page9)