IOC says it respects U.S. decision on Beijing 2022 Games

The U.S. will stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing t o protest Chinese human rights abuses, the White House confirmed Monday, a move that China has vowed to greet with “firm countermeasures.”

Published : Dec 08, 2021 07:22 IST , LAUSANNE

A visitor to the Shougang Park walks past the a sculpture for the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing.
A visitor to the Shougang Park walks past the a sculpture for the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing.
lightbox-info

A visitor to the Shougang Park walks past the a sculpture for the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it respected the United States' government decision for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in February over China's human rights record.

"We always ask for as much respect as possible and least possible interference from the political world," said Juan Antonio Samaranch, the IOC's coordination commission chief for the Beijing Olympics, on Tuesday.

"We have to be reciprocal. We respect the political decisions taken by political bodies," he told a virtual news conference.

"We are extremely proud, happy and hopeful that all athletes of the world will live in peace in 59 days (in Beijing)," he said.

RELATED|

The White House said on Monday U.S. government officials would boycott the Winter Olympics because of China's human rights "atrocities", although U.S. athletes were free to travel there to compete.

The U.S. boycott, encouraged for months by some members of Congress and rights groups, comes despite an effort to stabilise ties between the world's two largest economies, with a video meeting last month between U.S. President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping.

China opposes the boycott and will take "resolute countermeasures," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing in Beijing, host city of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

RELATED|

"This is a political domain, and we respect their right to take that political decision and them to respect the athlete's right to take part in the Games," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said.

He said the U.N.'s recent adoption of an Olympic Truce resolution for Beijing 2022 proved countries around the world were backing the Olympics.

"We think that countries and their governments are very much behind the Games and very much understanding," Adams said.

"They clearly support the aims of the Olympic Games, and they understand that we are, hopefully, beyond politics."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment