Brown in Olympics 'dithering' row

Last Modified: 10 Apr 2008
By: James Blake

Gordon Brown's decision not to attend the opening of the Beijing Olympics plunges this summer's games into further confusion.

Downing Street has said this morning that the prime minister DID speak directly to his Chinese opposite number about his decision not to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

The decision - revealed on last night's Channel 4 News - has provoked a political row, with Conservative leader David Cameron accusing Mr Brown of Olympic-scale dithering.

As the torch continued its troubled path through San Francisco last night, the head of the International Olympics Committee admitted that the event was facing a crisis.