ARGENTINA - OLYMPICS 2012: Argentina airs advert of Argentine Olympic athlete training on Falkland islands.

Record ID: 330712

  • Title: ARGENTINA - OLYMPICS 2012: Argentina airs advert of Argentine Olympic athlete training on Falkland islands.
  • Date: 4th May 2012
  • Summary: USHUAIA, ARGENTINA (FILE - APRIL 2012) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF CEREMONY 30 YEARS SINCE BEGINNING OF FALKLANDS WAR ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ HOLDING PLAQUE OF ISLANDS VARIOUS OF FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM FERNANDEZ GREETING WAR VETERANS
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7UKQ2CWLSGJE6SZZD9T6YPBT8
  • Story Text: Argentina has risked stirring up political controversy with Britain ahead of the London Olympics by broadcasting a video of an athlete training on the disputed Falkland Islands, which it describes as "Argentine soil".
    President Cristina Fernandez's government has pushed hard for negotiations with Britain this year, the 30th anniversary of Argentina's 1982 invasion that sparked a short war won by Britain with the loss of more than 900 lives on both sides.
    The advert was aired on the 30th anniversary of the sinking of Argentine ship the General Belgrano during the war, the war's bloodiest attack that left over 300 Argentines dead.
    "To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil," is the slogan closing the advert aired on Wednesday (May 2) with Fernando Zylberberg of the Argentine men's hockey team on a training run past several landmarks on the British-held islands.
    The advert contradicted the government's recent denial that the South American country would seek political gain from the London Games which take place from July 27 to Aug. 12.
    Argentina claims sovereignty over the islands in the South Atlantic which they call Las Malvinas.
    Back in Buenos Aires, lawmaker Mario Negri said the advert was little more than an affirmation of what many Argentines feel.
    "This is not an example of foreign policy, but I think it's something that happened within the context of a peaceful situation that sends a message that Argentines and Argentina have been calling our own for many years," he said.
    And on the streets of Buenos Aires, many supported the message behind the advert, even if they felt it would have little impact.
    "I think it's right. We are defending something that is ours with the weapons we have. We know we are inferior to the big powers and we have to use what we have in reach to get something done," said one resident of Buenos Aires.
    "It's fabulous artistically and as an Argentine that spirit comes out of you, 'Yes, it's Argentine soil!' Something comes out of you. But I don't understand the concrete reason, the intelligent political reason. It's just to look for a fight. I don't know," added another resident.
    Zylberberg, who was on the islands last month with many Argentine participants in the Falklands marathon, was filmed doing exercises outside the Globe Tavern in the islands' capital Port Stanley and running past the offices of the Penguin News newspaper.
    The athlete told the Cadena 3 radio station that the crew filmed clandestinely, using the marathon as a cover. Veterans were on a visit to the islands and some took part in the marathon.
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