London ( CNN ) -- Syrian athletes will be allowed to attend this summer 's London Olympics but officials from the war-torn country will not be welcome , says UK Prime Minister David Cameron . `` I do n't think we should punish the athletes for the sins of the region . Syrian athletes will be taking part in the Games , and that is right , '' Cameron said at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday . But representatives of the President Bashar al-Assad regime will not be welcome , he added . `` Britain has led efforts within the European Union and elsewhere to institute asset bans , travel freezes and punishing sanctions against this despicable regime and anyone covered by one of those travel bans will not be welcomed in London , '' Cameron said . His message of support for Syrian athletes came on the same day as a visit by International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) President Jacques Rogge . Rogge is in London along with other IOC officials to see at first hand how final preparations for the Games ( which start on July 27 ) are progressing . Earlier this month , Rogge said there were between six and eight Syrian athletes who could potentially qualify for the Games , but warned that any athlete implicated in war crimes would be banned . He added that the IOC was currently working with the United Nations ( U.N. ) to verify lists of those inside the country who are wanted for war crimes . According the U.N. 's most recent estimates , more than 9,000 people have been killed since the conflict between Syrian forces and rebels began in March 2011 .
Syrian Prime Minister David Cameron backs British athletes to attend to Syria 2012 London Olympics . `` I do n't think we should punish the athletes for the sins of the region , '' Cameron said . IOC currently working with the United Nations to identify anyone guilty of war crimes in London . More than 9,000 people have died in the conflict which started in March 2011 .