The reactions were not long in coming. While Beijing threatened retaliation, the complaints in Europe were cautious. According to Psaki, the background to the boycott is the “genocide” in the autonomous region of Xinjiang and other human rights violations. However, this should not have any influence on the participation of the athletes. They will take part in the games. The US government will cheer the American athletes from home.
When asked why the United States didn’t opt for a complete boycott who decided the games, said Psaki, they did not want to punish the athletes who had trained intensively for the games. And the government is of the opinion that this step also sends a “clear message”.
As the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday, it will take “decisive countermeasures”. “The USA will pay a price for their mistakes, ”said the ministry, which also assured that the boycott attempt of Washington was“ doomed to fail ”.
Vice Chancellor and Sports Minister Werner Kogler (Greens) will also refrain from the Winter Games in Beijing due to the human rights situation. He announced this to the Austrian Olympic Committee two months ago. “As for the question of supporting a diplomatic Boycotts As far as this is concerned, talks are to be held at government level, but above all at European level, ”it said.
The Winter Olympics will take place in China from February 4th to 20th, 2022. The authoritarian ruled country is accused of human rights violations, especially against minorities like the Muslim Uyghurs. Human rights groups cite the Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong autonomous regions as examples of Chinese reprisals. Again and again, boycott calls for the winter games there are loud.
