If you are like me and have been watching the Winter Olympics, you might have heard about the diplomatic boycott. Before I go any further, this article mentions and discusses human rights violations including genocide and crimes against humanity, COVID-19, racism, and mentions sexual assault. The boycott is happening because world leaders (including Canadian leaders) are horrified about the human rights abuses currently going on in China, including the “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity being perpetuated by the regime against the Uyghur ethnic group in the Xinjiang region,” perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party. Even though this is happening, you probably will not notice a change, because due to COVID-19, there is no audience at the games at all. The boycott involves world leaders not attending the games. The United States announced their boycott in December 2021. According to axios.com, their announcement came “on the heels of the Women’s Tennis Association suspending all tournaments in China and Hong Kong over the treatment of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who accused China’s former vice premier of sexual assault and was not seen for weeks after speaking out.” Other countries participating are Australia, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Denmark, Canada, and Estonia. After the United States announced their boycott, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian claimed that the United States is, according to axios.com, “attempting to interfere with the games ‘out of ideological prejudice and based on lies and rumors.’” This is not the first Olympic boycott: there were boycotts in the 1970s and 1980s. Even though there is a boycott going on, the participating countries are still supporting their athletes fully. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “The athletes on Team USA have our full support, we’ll be behind them 100% as we cheer them on from home.” So, you do not have to feel guilty about watching and enjoying the games!
By: Mallory Johnson