Games a force for good: olympics president

BEIJING, Apr 25 (Reuters) The Olympic Games are a ''force for good'' and will leave a positive lasting effect on Chinese society, Olympic president Jacques Rogge said today.

In China's capital for an International Olympic Committee meeting, Rogge sidestepped questions about political protests and left it to IOC member Hein Verbruggen to underline the sports body's apolitical stance.

''Appeals for boycotts of games are a very old issue,'' Verbruggen told reporters.

''The Games is a very big thing and in the 70s and 80s we had a lot of these issues.

''When it comes to Darfur (in Sudan) -- we, as the IOC, have always taken the position that these are political issues. We are not a political operation or body.

''We, from our side, are not in a position to give instructions to governments to tell them how to behave. We can only hope that any problems are solved as soon as possible.'' Activist groups have been using the Olympics to protest against China and its policies.

China supplies arms to Sudan and also has huge oil investments in the country. Rights groups say its engagement is frustrating attempts to stop the civil war and the atrocities.

''The IOC is a sports organisation,'' Verbruggen added.

''We are here to organise the Games and we feel that bringing the Games here, without going into details, will be beneficial to this country.

''Would any situation be better if we were not coming here? I think it is certain it would not.'' REUTERS BJR VV1441