Syrian NOC Chief Claims "No Violence", Widespread Support for Al-Assad

(ATR) The president of the Syrian Olympic Committee tells Around the Rings "all athletes" support embattled President Bashar al-Assad and "there is no violence" in the country, despite a brutal crackdown for more than a year with several thousand dead in its wake.

Mowaffak Joumaa made the comments to ATR at the recent Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Moscow.

Joumaa, a retired brigadier general in the Syrian army, said the broad support among sportsmen is a reflection of national sentiment toward al-Assad.

Part of that is the special attention al-Assad pays to sport in Syria, he said, noting numbers of "special meetings" with athletes and coaches – the most recent one a three-hour affair for around 350 people.

"He speaks with every kind of sport to find out what they need," Joumaa said of al-Assad.

"He likes sport, he trains every day."

Joumaa also rejected the claim from Abdelbasset Saroot, a former goalie on Syria’s football team, who told ITV earlier this month that Syrian athletes "don’t want to play for a flag that they have no pride or faith in."

"All the people in the football team from all the cities in Syria, in Damascus and Homs and Latakia… all the people in the football team…they like Syria.

"He’s one man," he added.

"I think all people in Syria, no less than 85 or 90 percent support our president and support our president because… prior to becoming president he was a doctor. All people like our president."

Al-Assad has been blacklisted from travel within the European Union due to the crackdown on protest, and it seems unlikely he will attend the London Olympics. All heads of state are invited, but the British government is free to block anyone from entry into the country.

Joumaa said he doesn’t think it’s important for al-Assad to go to the Games.

"I think it’s impossible. In my mind maybe he wants to come, but at this time it’s not necessary because in our country, he makes a good life for everyone in Syria."

Looking toward London, Joumaa said the SOC hopes to send "about 20 athletes" to the Olympics and Paralympics.

He said athletics, boxing, equestrian, shooting and swimming were the sports in which Syria will be represented.

When asked if there were medal prospects, he said: "I hope so. I think maybe in equestrian and boxing there is good chance."

Despite near constant media reports of violence throughout Syriasince 2011 as part of the Arab Spring uprising, Joumaa insists "there is no violence."

"I think 100 percent of all Syria support our president. He is a very young man. His mind is open to make everything for the people."

The general had a simple explanation for why non-Syrians would think violence is the norm throughout the country – "very bad media."

"Maybe this problem is finished in our country," he claimed.

"I am looking at everything, and it is OK. No problems.

"In the land it is different. The media, Al-Jazeera, BBC, CNN, more than 70 stations make not honest [news reports].

"I say all people who must work in the media, they must make honest [reports], not with the minds they have about Arab people. They must come to see and talk to the people."

The United Nations says 9,000 people have died in the violence that started in March 2011. The Syrian government claims just under 4,000 deaths.

A ceasefire was negotiated by the United Nations on April 12, but that would appear to be tenuous as deaths continue to mount, including 70 people who died in the town of Hama on Monday.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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