Small protest greets Syrian Olympian

LONDON: A dozen people opposed to the Syrian government have protested the presence at the Olympics of equestrian rider Ahmad Saber Hamsho.

The rider’s father is under U.S. and EU sanctions for supporting the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Syria’s civil war has intensified in recent weeks as rebels focused on the country’s two biggest cities, Damascus and Aleppo.

Hamsho competed Saturday in the show jumping individual qualifier, producing a clear round in good time on Wonderboy.

He has been quoted in the British media as supporting Assad. But on Saturday, he said he was only representing Syria and he dismissed the protesters outside the gate as “stupid.”

“They should be proud of us athletes who are representing Syria,” he said.