Turkish ski jumper Ipcioglu mum on Uyghur statement

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — Turkish ski jumper Fatih Arda Ipcioglu declined to say if the crescent and star on his blue skis the day before the normal hill competition at the Beijing Olympics was a statement in support of China’s Uyghur community.

The design on the skis used Saturday seemed to recognize East Turkestan, the region that is home to Uyghurs.

“I don’t want to answer about those questions,” Ipcioglu said Sunday after jumping in the first round of the Normal Hill competition.

Ipcioglu switched his equipment on Sunday, saying the skis he was wearing were for the competition.

“I’m a sportsman,” he said. “I do just my job. The other things, I don’t care about. It’s not my job.”

Human rights groups say the Chinese government has oppressed members of the Uyghur Muslim minority on a massive scale.

Ipcioglu finished 36th in the 50-jumper field.

“I show my jump under my Turkish flag,” he said, “and that’s it.”

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