The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said on Thursday that it opposed any attempts to politicize the August Beijing Olympic Games.

"Sports lovers are keenly awaiting the great event and no attempts should be made to politicize it," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told a news briefing.

The Beijing Olympic torch relay, which began on March 24, is due to arrive in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on April 16.

Dyed Arid Han, president of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) said earlier that Pakistan is fully prepared to successfully host the Olympic torch relay.

The Olympic flame, which was lit in the town of Ancient Olympia, Greece, will be transported to Islamabad from Muscat, capital of Oman.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2008)