The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has commented on the White House's statement on the refusal of the American leadership to attend the Beijing Olympics, Match TV reports.
IOC representatives clarified that they respect Washington's decision. The organization explained that the presence or absence of government officials and diplomats at the Games is a private matter for each country. In the matter of the diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, the IOC decided to maintain political neutrality.
At the same time, the statement by the US government makes it clear that the Olympic Games and the participation of athletes in them remains outside of politics, and we welcome this.
International Olympic Committee Boycott of the Olympics
The refusal of American politicians to go to the Olympics on Monday, December 6, said the press secretary of the US President Jen Psaki. At the same time, American athletes will be able to independently decide on participation in international competitions.
Psaki clarified that members of the US national team can be confident in the full support of the authorities.
A White House spokeswoman assured that Washington did not discuss its decision with the allies and gives them the opportunity to decide for themselves whether to participate or not to participate in events in China.
The US informed other countries of its plans.
We will support them 100 percent, we will root for them from home.
Jen Psakipress Press Secretary of the President of the United States Following the United States
Following the United States, Canada began to think about boycotting the Beijing Olympics, said Canadian Foreign Ministry spokesman Christelle Chartran. According to her, the American side notified them of the boycott of the Games, after which Ottawa also began to work on this issue. The country's foreign ministries have expressed concern about alarming reports of human rights violations in China.
We will continue to discuss this issue with our partners and allies.
Christelle Chartrand Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada
The Winter Olympic Games will be held in Beijing from 4 to 20 February, the Paralympics from 4 to 13 March. Only residents of mainland China will be able to purchase tickets for the competition. They will have to follow all the antique rules.
According to Dmitry Solonnikov, a political scientist and director of the Institute of Contemporary State Development, other states will want to boycott the Games after the United States.
He explained that world sports events have repeatedly become a place where states “measured the size of their ideological ambitions.”
The expert clarified that the host country of the Games always strives to invite as many guests as possible to a global event. In addition to sports, projects at various levels can be discussed.
This, most likely, will affect a number of other representatives of the diplomatic corps of the world, who are attentively listening to the United States and are actually in a morally subordinate position.
Dmitry Solonnikovpolitical scientist, Director of the Institute of Contemporary State Development
It is also a chance to showcase your image in international circles.
Earlier, politicians from Canada, Norway, the United States, as well as representatives of almost 200 human rights organizations, made a call to boycott the Games in China. The reason for the dissatisfaction was the “massive repression” in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.
