Rogge: Olympics will improve human rights

The Beijing Olympics will help to improve the human rights situation in China, International Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge has said. "The IOC is absolutely clear that it wants full respect of human rights," Rogge told the press before the Olympic body's executive board gathered. "It is however not its task to monitor human rights – we are not equipped to do that." He said the interest in China from the international media would improve conditions. When China was awarded the games in 2001, the IOC came under fire. But Beijing has consistently said the 2008 Olympics will demonstrate the social changes that China has undergone in recent years.