The Ethiopian ambassador said on Wednesday the world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie's statement about his not competing in the Beijing Olympic marathon is a personal decision made without consulting the country's Olympic committee.

The Ethiopian runner told Reuters and several other western media on March 10 that he intends to opt out of the marathon in Beijing because the city's air pollution might damage his health. But he said he would still attend the 10,000 meters event at the 2008 Games.

"We don't know what made him make the announcement, and we don't understand why he chose this time to say it," the Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Haile-Kiros Gessesse, told Xinhua reporters.

Gessesse said Beijing has improved its air quality since it won the Olympic bid in 2001, when it suffered from more serious air problems.

"The pollution is not targeted at a single athlete but all athletes. I think his claim is not quite convincing to the public," the ambassador said.

Gebrselassie told media he was worried that air pollution in Beijing will induce his asthma. But the ambassador said it was the first time he heard Gebrselassie had this health problem.

The ambassador said only the Ethiopian Olympic Committee could decide who will play and who will not and the committee has not yet decided the final list of athletes attending the marathon.

"He did not act according to the rules and norms set by our country's Olympic committee. He could have waited until the list is released and if he is on the list, he can then decide if he wants to compete," Gessesse said, "He closed the door for himself."

He said Gebrselassie could still re-open the door if he changes his mind. "We want to see the Beijing Olympics fly the Ethiopian flag as many times as possible."

Gebrselassie set a world record in the Berlin marathon last year and won two Olympic gold medals for 10,000 meters in Atlanta (1996) and Athens (2000).

The ambassador said the Ethiopian Olympic Committee will not release the list of athletes attending Beijing Olympics until June, but there will be a larger number of athletes attending more events than in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"We appointed an Olympic attache last December to work closely with the Beijing Organizing Committee for 2008 Olympic Games and Ethiopian athletes are all eager to win medals," the ambassador said.

In addition to Gebreselassie, Ethiopia has a number of prominent long-distance runners including the Bekele brothers – Kenenisa and Tariku.

"If Gebrselassie will be on the final list of athletes for the Beijing Olympic marathon, and he still opts out, Ethiopian Olympic Committee will respect his choice, but it will hurt the feelings of our people," the ambassador said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2008)