Copenhagen- Crown Prince Frederik's hopes of being elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are closely linked with the Danish government's decision on whether or not to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, reports said Monday.

Meanwhile, there seemed to be support for a boycott, a survey said.

Kai Holm, Denmark's current IOC delegate who steps down next year, said if Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Denmark should stay away from the opening ceremony it would end the prince's chances.

"The crown prince would have to shelve his hopes of becoming an IOC member and they can scrap the advisory group recently set up for him," Holm told Danish news agency Ritzau.

The head of the Danish sports confederation, Niels Nygaard, also doubted the prince could be elected if Denmark stays away.

Culture Minister Brian Mikkelsen who also handles sports matters told broadcaster TV2 Sunday evening he was thinking about staying away from the opening ceremony.

"The current situation in Tibet is unsatisfactory," Mikkelsen said, adding that Copenhagen was keeping close track of developments in Tibet.

Mikkelsen's remarks signalled a possible change of the government's stance. Copenhagen has so far said that a decision of a possible boycott of the opening ceremony should be made by the European Union, and a lone Danish action would be futile.

The opposition Social Democrats said they remained convinced that only a joint EU decision would be worthwhile.

The Gallup poll, commissioned by the Berlingske Tidende newspaper, said 50 per cent supported a boycott of the opening ceremony unless China improves its human rights record, 39 per cent opposed a boycott while 11 per cent were undecided.(dpa)