Australian athletes vowed on Friday to participate in the Beijing Olympic Games in August despite threats of terrorist attacks.
Chinese authorities said Thursday they have cracked two terrorist groups in the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and foiled plots to sabotage the Beijing Olympics by kidnapping foreign athletes, journalists and tourists during the August Games, as well as suicide bomb attacks.
Olympic basketball player Sam Mackinnon said terrorism fears won't stop him competing for Australia. "As an individual you can't be dictated to by terrorism, you can't give in to them," he said.
"I'm not going to let those people deter me from achieving my ultimate goal."
Melissa Wu, 15, is set to become the youngest ever person on an Australian diving team after qualifying for selection on Friday with Briony Cole, 24, in the 10-meter synchronized diving.
"I'm sure the Olympic Committee will do everything," Wu told reporters.
"We've been to Beijing and I haven't had any concerns for my safety and I'm sure in the village everything should be fine," she said.
Australia head swimming coach Alan Thompson, speaking from the World Short Course Championships in Manchester, said he didn't think news of the kidnap plot would deter swimmers from attending the Games, according to a report from the Australian Associated Press.
He said "absolutely" when asked if he had faith in the Beijing authorities protecting them.
John Coates, president of the Australian Olympic Committee, also declared on Friday he had every confidence in China being able to protect Australian athletes.
"We have always had full confidence in China being able to provide a safe games for our athletes and this confirms just how seriously they are taking their responsibilities," Coates said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2008)