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Going for the Gold in Olympic Brothels
Jul 28, 10:18 am ET

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's Olympic Committee says it would not forbid its athletes from visiting brothels during the 2004 Athens Olympics, saying it trusted its representatives to save their best performances for the Games.

"We do not need to interfere in the private lives of our athletes or threaten them," said Swedish Olympic Committee spokesman Bjorn Folin.

He would not comment on the decision by the Danish Olympic Committee to send home any athletes caught with their pants down in Athens.

"I didn't know they had a problem. We have never had any problems. Our athletes will stay focused on their performances at the Games," Folin added.

Folin's comments follow protests by the Swedish government and six Nordic and Baltic neighbors, expressing outrage at the Athens plan to license more brothels for the 2004 Olympics.