It is a shame that people wanted to deteriorate and have political cause to drag the Olympic Games, said Jack Scharr, the trustee and art committee chairman of the United States Sports Academy Thursday.

Scharr voiced his support for the Beijing Olympics, saying, "This will be the best Olympics in the world. We are all delighted to see China to host the Beijing Olympics."

"It's not unusual that politics get involved in a sport and in the Olympic Games. But it should be totally separated," Scharr said firmly.

Scharr said that in ancient days, countries should lay down their arms and continue to come together for sports, adding, "That is the Olympics all about. It's peace throughout the world and the world come together for sports and peace."

Scharr came here for the award Sports Artist of the Year by his academy to the Chinese sculptor Yuan Xikun, the first-ever Chinese artist to get the honor.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2008)