Human rights activists have vowed to turn their attention to high-profile supporters such as Oscar-winning director Lee Ang and American music impresario Quincy Jones, the Telegraph newspaper reported.

Jones is writing a theme tune for the Games, while Lee was recruited as an artistic consultant.

A spokesman for Jones said on Thursday night he 'supports Spielberg's decision' and was considering whether to follow suit, the Telegraph said.

According to the daily, other prominent directors who will be urged to reconsider their involvement are Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou; choreographer Ric Birch, who helped in the Sydney Olympic ceremonies; and French events specialist Yves Pepin.

At the same time, a slew of activist groups are campaigning for corporate sponsors and athletes to follow Spielberg's lead.

Leading sponsors have been urged to press Beijing on its Darfur policy or face a series of protests and consumer boycotts in the approach to this summer's Games, the Independent newspaper reported yesterday.

However, sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Adidas and Lenovo defended their support for the Beijing Olympics, and said it was not their place to comment on politics, the Independent said.

There is also growing resentment among Olympians who feel they are being pressured to speak out on political issues.

Italian kayak champion Josefa Idem, who will be competing in her seventh Games in Beijing, admitted she was initially against the awarding of the Olympics to 'an undemocratic country like China'.

'They could have avoided giving the Games to China, but now that they have decided to go there, I am against applying pressure for political goals using the skin of the athletes,' the German-born 43-year-old said.

Olympic tennis champion Justine Henin said earlier this week that sports and politics 'must remain separate'.

'I am going there to play tennis, not play politics,' the Belgian said.

Five-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson said it was 'a tremendous amount of pressure' to place on athletes, and said the media should not question them on political issues.

China has repeatedly denounced what it calls attempts to 'politicise' the Games.

REUTERS