Special report:   2008 Olympic Games     

    LUSAKA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The National Olympics Committee (NOC) of Zambia has advised all the six Zambian athletes who have qualified for Olympics in Beijing to avoid injuries as they go into the last lap of preparing for the games, Times of Zambia reported Thursday.

    NOC president Miriam Moyo said Wednesday in Kitwe of Copperbelt province that his country could not afford injuries at this stage as it would reduce hopes for medals from the games, where Zambia has not performed well in the past.

    Moyo said that the athletes needed to keep away from activities that could result in injuries but insisted they should not slow down on training.

    "We are approaching a final stretch and we need our boys and girls fit for the games. I would like to appeal to them to avoid injuries as much as possible. I know injuries are part of sport but we can only hope that nothing like that happens," she said.

    The six Zambian athletes going to the Olympics are boxers, swimmers and running pair.