It was supposed to be the biggest spectacle of this decade. 

But the Winter Olympics, held this month in Beijing, have not gone according to plan for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. 

Now, a leading human rights campaigner says China's apparent plan to use the Games to distract the world from human rights abuses has failed. 

China is accused of oppressing the Uighur minority, threatening Taiwan and crushing freedoms in Hong Kong. But officials hoped hosting the Winter Olympics would lead to plenty of positive headlines.

Critics say it is an example of sportswashing. This is when oppressive governments use sports to promote their country and distract from damaging stories. 

The 2008 Games in Beijing were widely seen as a huge success for China. But the 2022 Olympics are a "catastrophic failure," says Luke de Pulford, head of anti-slavery charity Arise. 

Several nations, including the UK, USA and India, have not sent any officials to watch the Games. Athletes have been warned not to say anything negative about the Chinese government. A minder was caught watching over tennis star Peng Shuai as she gave a television interview.

"This hasn't been the propaganda victory Beijing was hoping for," says de Pulford. For many, it is a sign that sport is no longer honest. 

Others say that sport has always been political. But in the end, it is the athletes' extraordinary achievements that matter the most. 

"The appeal of the Games is the Olympians themselves," says one journalist. "The talent and hard work are real." 

Sports fans will always remember Eileen Gu's fantastic flips and Ireen Wust's dramatic skating.

Some go even further. John Amaechi, a former basketball player, believes sports is not about dishonesty. Instead, it is about making positive changes for a fairer society.

Yes: From the Beijing Olympics to the Qatar World Cup, major sporting events have simply become dishonest attempts by authoritarian governments to distract the world from their oppressive regimes.

No: Pursuing sporting excellence is far from dishonest. Watching and facilitating sport is about celebrating the extraordinary achievements and abilities of the world's best athletes.

Or... Sports are not inherently dishonest, but the Olympic Games has proved time and time again that it has been corrupted by dishonest practices, from dopingDrugs, hormones and blood transfusions can all help to give athletes a crucial advantage. Some sports theorists say that doping is no less fair than using sophisticated technology or dietary supplements, but due to health risks and perceived dishonesty, most of these techniques are banned. and bribery to cover-ups of shameful abuse.