BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia — European Union sports ministers and Olympic committees opposed a boycott of the Beijing Games over the handling of the Tibet protests.

The ministers, holding talks today, said sports should not be linked to such a political issue and that previous Olympic boycotts have already shown what limited impact they have.

"I am against a boycott of the Olympic Games in China," Slovenia's sports minister, Milan Zver, told The Associated Press.

Zver is chairing a meeting of top EU sports officials from the 27 member states and Olympic committees. His sentiments were echoed by other ministers and Olympic committees, who already discussed the issue informally at a gala dinner late Sunday.

"To burden sports with this is the wrong way. It really has to be for the politicians," said Erica Terpstra, head of the Dutch Olympic Committee.

"There was no call for a boycott whatsoever, even though there is great concern about what happens there," Terpstra said. "And I have an additional concern: Keep your hands off my athletes."

Today, Tibet's governor promised leniency to anti-Chinese protesters who turned themselves in before the end of the day, as troops fanned out to quell sympathy protests that have spread to three neighboring provinces.

The fiercest protests against Chinese rule in almost two decades have embarrassed China's communist government and hurt its efforts to have a smooth run-up to the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics.

Europe, however, has never questioned the right for the Chinese to stage the games.

Last Friday, a summit of EU leaders criticized China's response to demonstrations in Tibet but did not go so far as to threaten a boycott of the Beijing Games on human rights grounds.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana even said he still intended to go to the games himself.

At today's meeting, the EU ministers said they would, at most, seek to issue a statement on the situation in China. Talk of a boycott was a step too far.

"No, because what will that help?" asked Danish Sports Minister Brian Mikkelsen. "There would be no real effect if there is a boycott. That will really mix politics and sports. I am against this."

Because the Olympics are held in Beijing, the Tibet issue might now get more attention than it otherwise would, said Mikkelsen

"There will be a spotlight on this. And this is for the benefit of Tibet," he said.

The national Olympic committees said others should stand up instead of athletes.

"Sports should not carry the burden," said Togay Bayatli, president of the Turkish Olympic Committee.

"Our countries are doing business there. Everybody is going there," Bayatli said, adding it was up to businessmen and politicians to take the initiative.

Economic relations between the 27-nation EU and China are moving closer all the time. Bilateral trade doubled between 2000-05 and reached $370 billion in 2006. Europe is China's largest export market and China is Europe's prime source of imports.