Iran’s Ahmadinejad plans to attend London Olympics

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to attend Olympic Games in London, which will commence in a month, the secretary general of the Islamic Republic's National Olympic Committee announced, according to YNet.

Ahmadinejad recently said he wants to support his country's athletes but that the British authorities had "problems" with hosting him.

According to an Iranian news agency, the Olympic committee official, Bahram Afsharzadeh, said Ahmadinejad will fly to London on July 26, a day before the opening ceremony. However, the report said, it remains unclear whether he will attend the opening ceremony.

Some 50 Iranian athletes will participate in the Olympics, and last month President Ahmadinejad said he would 'like to be among Iranian athletes in the 2012 London Olympics to support them."

Afsharzadeh said, "Following thorough examinations it was decided that I will fly together with the president to London on July 26. Just as he did in the 2008 Olympics, the president will watch the (athletes) compete."