Asia-Pacific News
Norwegian royals to attend Olympic ceremony
Jul 23, 2008, 14:45 GMT
Oslo - Norwegian King Harald and Queen Sonja will attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, reports said Wednesday.
The reports said that the royals will be joined by Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Riis-Johansen at the August 8 ceremony.
Culture and Sports Minister Trond Giske, the cabinet member who most vocally backed earlier calls for staying away from the opening ceremony to protest human rights concerns, was slated to attend the closing ceremony with Crown Prince Haakon.
Giske told Oslo daily Verdens Gang that 'the absence of the Norwegian culture minister from the opening ceremony was likely to make little impression on the Chinese authorities.'
Earlier this year a heated debate raged in Norway and other countries over a possible boycott of the opening ceremony to underline concerns for events in Tibet.
Giske said the cabinet had discussed the matter, adding that 'Norway has never considered being the only country to stay away.'
During his visit to China Giske said he aimed to discuss human rights and freedom of expression.
Riis-Johansen will discuss energy issues during his visit, the newspaper said.
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