Argentina uses Olympics training video to publicise its claim to sovereignty of the Falklands

Argentina is attempting to politicise the London Olympics by using the event to highlight its claim to sovereignty of the Falklands.

President Cristina Kirchner’s government has released a TV advert which shows Olympic hopeful Fernando Zylberberg training on the islands.

The 35-year-old Argentinian hockey player was filmed outside a pub, the Globe Tavern, and running past local newspaper the Penguin News and a red telephone box.

The 90-second film finishes with the slogan “To compete on English soil, we are training on Argentine soil” and adds: “Tribute to the fallen and ex-combatants.”

The advert, made by US agency Young & Rubicam for President Kirchner’s office, was shown on several Argentinian TV stations last night — the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the General Belgrano by British forces.

“This is going to generate international repercussions,” said one official.

Senator Anibal Fernandez tweeted: “Very good advert about the Malvinas and the Olympics.”

The Argentinian government did not say if it had permission to film in the Falklands.

Today, many Argentinians were critical of the advert. One wrote on the website of newspaper La Nacion: “This advert seems to me to show a lack of respect for the soldiers who died in the Malvinas and what our claims to sovereignty mean… It is a disgrace and a game aimed at submerging people in greater ignorance.”