China Disappointed With US Bringing Politics to Winter Olympics

Wednesday, 08 December 2021 – 19:06 GMT+7
China Disappointed With US Bringing Politics to Winter Olympics - JPNN.com English
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian / Credit: ANTARA, HO-MOFA, mii

jpnn.com, BEIJING - The Chinese government has protested strongly against the United States over the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

"The US practice gravely violates the principle of political neutrality enshrined in the Olympic Charter, runs counter to the Olympic motto of 'together' and stands on the opposite side of global athletes and sports fans," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in Beijing, Tuesday (7/12).

According to him, the Winter Olympics is not a contest of strength and manipulation because according to Olympic rules, participants are invited to respect the National Sports Committees in each country.

The White House announced Monday that the US administration under President Joe Biden was not sending diplomatic and official representatives to the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing. This comes as China is being accused of committing genocide, crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, and human rights abuses.

"No-one would care about whether these people come or not, and it has no impact whatsoever on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics to be successfully held," Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the US, wrote on Twitter.

Previously, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also expressed his consideration to boycott the Winter Olympics, which will be held in February.

So far, preparations for the Winter Olympics have entered the final stages. Several foreign athletes, including from the US and Japan, are ready to compete in China, according to Chinese media.

Beijing will make record in Olympic history because it will be the only city to successfully host both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics.

The Chinese government has protested strongly against the United States over the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.