The Beijing Olympics, to be held on February 4th, 2022, has been called to be boycotted by human rights groups across China. In light of the leak of Xinjiang Papers in 2019, the Uyghur genocide, Hong Kong and Tibet protests, China has been under constant scrutiny by the world for its’ questionable stand against human rights abuse reports from across the country. As per the human rights activists, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) allowing Beijing Olympics to take place will give China the seal of approval for its’ politics against the oppressed minority groups.
Pelosi calls for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which means the boycott has bipartisan consensus. This is a tight slap on the CCP face indeed. pic.twitter.com/Hl5NqCK3NX
— 澳喜作战室 HA WarRoom (@HWarroom) May 19, 2021
The IOC has been requested previously by the human rights groups of China on multiple occasions for canceling the Beijing Olympics 2022 programs. The World Uyghur Congress urged the IOC in a July 30th, 2020 letter to reconsider Beijing Olympics '22 in light of the Uyghur genocide. US Senator Rick Scott has expressed disappointment after failing to convince the IOC president to move the 2022 Olympics out of China. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab suggested Britain to boycott the 2022 Olympics right after.
While the U.S. celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday, in Xinjiang, Communist China prevents women from having children & tortures mothers in concentration camps for having “too many” kids. @POTUS needs to realize there's no room for cooperation with a regime guilty of genocide. https://t.co/yFAe8yHMQq
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) May 10, 2021
A coalition representing Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kong residents, and others among many oppressed minorities has revealed that lighter measures like diplomatic boycotts or further discussions with IOC or the Chinese Government are not in focus anymore. According to most human rights organizations, boycotting the 2022 Olympics is the only way forward at this point.
Lhadon Tethong from the Tibet Action Institute said, "This cannot be games as usual or business as usual; not for the IOC and not for the international community." However, some have a different opinion on the boycott. Countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and some human rights organizations have argued in favor of diplomatic boycotts, emphasizing the damage the athletes will have to deal with if the Olympics are boycotted.
The Chinese government has criticized these efforts, denying any human-rights abuse or the Uyghur genocide itself. The foreign minister of China has mentioned that any boycott movement will be "doomed to failure".
On the other hand, the IOC has shown disinterest in taking any action regarding the anti-human rights politics in China. President Thomas Bach of IOC argued for its "neutrality" in an interview, saying, "We are not a super-world government". IOC included human rights requirements a few years ago in the contract for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but it did not include those guidelines for Beijing. Activists from around the globe have heavily criticized the IOC's stance on this.
President Joseph Biden's (USA) administration has suggested mutually discussing the final stance with other allies against the anti-human rights politics of China and vowed to "not let China surpass the United States as a world leader on his watch."
