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Exiled Tibetans living in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, have expressed disappointment over Tibet not qualifying as a nation to participate in the London Olympics. Tibetan activists feel the real meaning and essence of the games is missing, as Tibetan people are suffering under the repressive Chinese regime and the games do not reflect the value of sportsmanship. The Cultural Secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress, Jigme, said he wants to take this opportunity to seek support from the world for their movement of Free Tibet. "When we look back to the history of the Olympics, it is not only a gathering of the game and the sport but rather than it play a very important role in the betterment of the society, the unity of society and the peace in the world. So at the same time I would like to give a massage to all the countries that still the Tibetans are still suffering under the brutal occupation of the red China and still our Tibetan brothers and sisters are in Tibet still suffering and they can't have any freedom, any independence and they even have no religious freedom. So, I take this opportunity and I would ask for support for the cause of Tibet ," said Jigme. A Tibetan activist and organiser of Tibetan Olympics 2008, Lobsang Wangyal, said the true essence of the games is missing. "In Tibet there are so many self immolations, more than 40 people have burnt themselves on fire saying that we are nothappy with the repressive Chinese policies. So, I think, people should also talk about such things. Of course, the different entities sports but they should know what is going on. There is no Tibetan representation in the Olympics. Our Tibetan athletes or who have the potential to be in the Olympics are not there. So, I feel the essence is not there," said Wangyal. Over 10,000 athletes from 204 countries will compete in 26 sports over 17 days of competition in the only city to have staged the modern Games three times. Britain 's Queen Elizabeth declared the London Olympics open after playing a cameo role in a dizzying ceremony designed to highlight the grandeur and eccentricities of the nation that invented modern sport. In the case of London 2012 their objective is to improve their strategic position among the global regions. The opening show, costing an estimated 27 million pounds ($42 million), was inspired by William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest", his late-life meditation on age and mortality. The ceremony provided a spectacular and often surreal sweep through three centuries of British achievement in science, social reform and the arts, each generation inspired by and building on the achievements of the last. At least 38 Tibetans had set themselves on fire since March 2011 in protest against China 's six-decade rule over Tibet , according to Tibetan rights groups and 28 of them had died. Wangyal added that even if the Tibetans were allowed to participate in the games, they would never want to represent the Chinese flag. "From the political point of view, it could be difficult because we are talking about autonomy to be within China . So, many be if there are skilled Tibetans or who are good at sports, they may have to represent under the Chinese flag. Bit at the same time what is happening in reality with the Tibetan lives in Tibet , they are not happy. Even if they are skilled, they will not be happy to go under the Chinese flag," added Wangyal. Activists say China violently had stamped out religious freedom and culture in Tibet , the mountainous region of western China that has been under Chinese control since 1950, when Communist troops marched in and announced its "peaceful liberation." Beijing insists Chinese rule has brought development and prosperity and denies trampling Tibetan rights. Chinese authorities have moved to stifle growing dissent, fuelled partly by greater confidence among the country's burgeoning middle class and also online social networks. China rejects criticism that it is eroding Tibetan culture and faith, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region. China considers Dalai Lama a separatist for his long struggle for Tibetan autonomy, and tensions over the issue are at their highest in years after a spate of protests and self-immolations, which have prompted a Chinese security crackdown. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a separatist. The Dalai Lama says he merely seeks greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.

Tibetans upset over Tibet not qualifying to participate in Olympics