Should sport be above politics? The Winter Olympics opens today in Beijing. Some will observe a ‘diplomatic boycott’ over human rights abuses. Others say this misses the point.
Putin slams US and UK Olympic boycott
Should sport be above politics? The Winter Olympics opens today in Beijing. Some will observe a 'diplomatic boycott' over human rights abuses. Others say this misses the point.
Millions of tonnes of fake snow, 3,000 athletes, 109 gold medals, seven sports and a 15-year-old ice-skating prodigy.
Today, the world will turn its eyes to China as the opening ceremony marks the official start of the 24th Winter Olympic Games. But as the fireworks light up the skies of Beijing, some faces will be missing from the crowds.
The UK, US, Canada and a host of other Western nations are holding a diplomatic boycottCountries will not send officials to Beijing to watch the games, but athletes will still travel and compete. of the games. Leaders say they will not send officials to watch Olympic events while human rights abuses take place in China.
The allegations are serious. In recent months, China has been accused of: i) genocide of the Muslim UighurChina denies that camps for Uighur people in Xinjiang are detention camps. Officials say they are "vocational, educational and training centres". minority, ii) crushing freedoms in Hong Kong and Taiwan, iii) causing the disappearance of tennis star Peng ShuaiIn November, Peng Shuai alleged that a former Chinese vice premier had sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, she disappeared from public view for nearly three weeks. and iv) harassing foreign journalists.
But not everyone agrees with the boycott. This week, Russian president Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of politicising sport and violating the Olympic charter that promotes peaceful competition between nations.
"This is fundamentally wrong," Putin told reporters. "The power and greatness of sports are that it brings people together, gives moments of triumph and pride for the country and delights with fair, just and uncompromising competition."
His words were echoed by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. "The Olympic Games are not about politics," Bach insisted. "The Olympic Games are firstly about sport."
Yet supporters of the boycott say it is China, not the West, that is politicising the games.
China's criticism of Western countries is "at the very least ironic, if not completely hypocritical," says academic Steve TsangTsang is director of the China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. .
"The fact they are using the Olympic Games as a major political event to project China's international image is completely ignored."
The 2008 Beijing Games were widely seen as a huge success for China. Dozens of gold medals, a slick opening ceremony and record-breaking TV audiences presented to the world the image of a nation at the peak of its powers.
This time, China is hoping for a repeat performance. Athletes have been warned that those who break China's laws with "behaviour that is against the Olympic spirit" will face "certain punishment".
Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats have paid an American company to ensure that millions will watch "touching moments" from the games on Instagram and TikTok.
Next week, many Western leaders will watch their athletes ski jump from afar. The slogan for the games - "together for a shared future" - is "like a relic from another time", writes one journalist.
The Winter Olympics is not the last major sporting event in 2022. The second-ever Saudi ArabianThe second-largest country in the Arab world, with a population of nearly 35 million. Grand Prix is rapidly approaching. So too is the football World Cup in QatarA small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes., where 6,500 migrant workers have died since 2011.
One thing is clear: it will not be long before Western politicians have to once again decide if sports is about politics, or if sports really is just about sports.
Should sport be above politics?
Yes: Sports promotes harmony and peaceful competition. The Winter Olympics should be a moment where everyone can forget their political differences and come together to wonder at spectacular skiing.
No: It is impossible to separate sports from politics when athletes are wearing flags on their vests. Countries use sports to demonstrate their power to the world. To suggest otherwise is naive.
Or... The politicisation of sports does not always have to be a bad thing. Athletes should be allowed to use their platform to promote change - and bring people together at the same time.
Keywords
Diplomatic boycott - Countries will not send officials to Beijing to watch the games, but athletes will still travel and compete.
Uighur - China denies that camps for Uighur people in Xinjiang are detention camps. Officials say they are "vocational, educational and training centres".
Peng Shuai - In November, Peng Shuai alleged that a former Chinese vice premier had sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, she disappeared from public view for nearly three weeks.
Steve Tsang - Tsang is director of the China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.
Saudi Arabian - The second-largest country in the Arab world, with a population of nearly 35 million.
Qatar - A small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes.
Putin slams US and UK Olympic boycott
Glossary
Diplomatic boycott - Countries will not send officials to Beijing to watch the games, but athletes will still travel and compete.
Uighur - China denies that camps for Uighur people in Xinjiang are detention camps. Officials say they are “vocational, educational and training centres”.
Peng Shuai - In November, Peng Shuai alleged that a former Chinese vice premier had sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, she disappeared from public view for nearly three weeks.
Steve Tsang - Tsang is director of the China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.
Saudi Arabian - The second-largest country in the Arab world, with a population of nearly 35 million.
Qatar - A small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes.