London — The first Mozambican athlete to participate in the London Olympic Games, the judoka Neusio Sidauque, competing in the 60 kilos category, was knocked out in his elimination round on Saturday.

Tony Lomo of the Solomon Islands defeated Sigauque by 0100 to 0010 points, despite a promising performance by Sigauque in the initial moments of the bout

Among the spectators watching the round was Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, who was one of the heads of state and government who attended the Friday night opening ceremony.

At a press conference at the end of his visit to London, Guebuza described Sigauque as "a very dedicated athlete" who had given his best to the bout.

Mozambicans wanted the six Mozambican athletes present in London to do well, Guebuza added, but it had to be recognised that they were facing the best sportsmen and women on the planet.

"What is important", he stressed, "is that all the athletes should have strength of will and know the challenges they are facing".

The country, Guebuza said, has many challenges in sport, just as it has in other areas of development.

Guebuza said he had been very impressed by the high level of organisation of the opening ceremony. He declined to compare it with the opening ceremony at the Beijing games, four years ago, which he had also attended.

There was no standard by which the two events could be compared, he said, "since these are two different peoples with different cultures".

"Good work was done on both occasions", he said, "and I think the world should take this as a precedent so that the Olympic movement gains much more in terms of a high level of organisation and an agreeable spectacle".

The other five Mozambicans, who have yet to participate, are:

Kurt Couto (Athletics - men's 100 metre hurdles); Sylvia Panguane (Athletics - women's 100 metre hurdles); Juliano Maquina (boxing - 49 kilo category); Jessica Vieira (swimming - women's 50 and 100 metre freestyle); Chakil Camal (swimming - men's 100 metre freestyle).