Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, said activists will not overshadow the harmonizing spirit of the Olympics.

“We fully support the International Olympic Committee and the organizing committee, who are working to offer a great edition of the Olympic Games to athletes and to the world,” Nuzman said in a statement. “The Olympics is a magical moment to promote the integration of different people, races and religions, not an opportunity to promote a break between the parties.”

Calls for a boycott of the games surfaced after demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet turned violent March 14. China has said 22 have died from the violence, but Tibet’s exiled government says 80 Tibetans have been killed.

“The Brazilian Olympic Committee is engaged in the preparation of the Brazilian athletes and remains certain that Beijing 2008 will mark a wonderful moment in the history of the Olympic Games.”