LONDON (AP) — Syrian IOC member Samih Moudallal says his country's athletes have been able to prepare for the London Olympics despite an uprising at home.

The International Olympic Committee has registered 10 Syrian athletes, six men and four women, to compete in seven different sports.

Moudallal says "we have many places, calm and safe, for them" to train in Syria.

Protests against President Bashar Assad's regime began in March 2011 and became a civil war which activists say has killed at least 19,000 people.

Moudallal says that athletes have been able to "train and practice your daily business easily without any difficulties."

Moudallal picked Majed Aldin Ghazal in the men's high jump as Syria's best medal prospect.