China has said that it has received visa applications from US officials to attend the Winter Olympics, days after President Joe Biden declared boycott saying that they won’t be sending its officials to Beijing.

The Chinese foreign minister on Monday confirmed that the visa requests would be handled with “international practice, relevant regulations and the principle of reciprocity”.

“What I can confirm is that the Chinese side has received the visa application from the concerned U.S. officials,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese ministry told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

The US government had recently submitted visa applications for its 18 officials, mainly from the State Department and the Pentagon, to attend the February 4 marquee event and provide security and medical support for American athletes, reported the South China Morning Post, citing sources.

It is being reported that the applications for another 40 officials may be in the works.

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In late November, the Biden administration, along with some western countries, had announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games in response to the alleged genocides and human rights violations against the minorities in the Xinjiang province.

In response, Beijing had warned that it would take “resolute countermeasures” against the Biden administration if the diplomatic boycott went ahead.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-announces-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-winter-olympics-due-to-human-rights-abuses-in-china-434742">US announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics due to human rights abuses in China</a>

However, the call for a diplomatic boycott of the Games drew mixed responses from US allies.

France had said that it would be sending diplomats to Beijing, adding that it opposes using sports competitions to highlight concerns over human rights.

Earlier French President Emanuel Macron had questioned the utility of the Winter Games, calling the boycott “a symbolic step” that will not have a useful outcome.

Norway also said that it would be sending its officials to the games, while countries like South Korean and Japan had said that their officials would skip the event.

The European Union has yet to make a final decision on how it will approach the Games.

(With inputs from agencies)

China has said that it has received visa applications from US officials to attend the Winter Olympics, days after President Joe Biden declared boycott saying that they won’t be sending its officials to Beijing.

China has said that it has received visa applications from US officials to attend the Winter Olympics, days after President Joe Biden declared boycott saying that they won’t be sending its officials to Beijing. The Chinese foreign minister on Monday confirmed that the visa requests would be handled with “international practice, relevant regulations and the principle of reciprocity”. “What I can confirm is that the Chinese side has received the visa application from the concerned U.S. officials,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese ministry told a regular news briefing in Beijing. The US government had recently submitted visa applications for its 18 officials, mainly from the State Department and the Pentagon, to attend the February 4 marquee event and provide security and medical support for American athletes, reported the South China Morning Post, citing sources. It is being reported that the applications for another 40 officials may be in the works. Also read | Tibetan students lock themselves to Olympic rings to protest Beijing Winter Olympics In late November, the Biden administration, along with some western countries, had announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games in response to the alleged genocides and human rights violations against the minorities in the Xinjiang province. In response, Beijing had warned that it would take “resolute countermeasures” against the Biden administration if the diplomatic boycott went ahead. Also read | US announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics due to human rights abuses in China However, the call for a diplomatic boycott of the Games drew mixed responses from US allies. France had said that it would be sending diplomats to Beijing, adding that it opposes using sports competitions to highlight concerns over human rights. Earlier French President Emanuel Macron had questioned the utility of the Winter Games, calling the boycott “a symbolic step” that will not have a useful outcome. Norway also said that it would be sending its officials to the games, while countries like South Korean and Japan had said that their officials would skip the event. The European Union has yet to make a final decision on how it will approach the Games. (With inputs from agencies)

China says it has received visa applications from US officials to attend Winter Olympics

After Japan announced that it will not send government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, China's foreign ministry on Friday (December 24) has urged Japan not to "politicise sports".&nbsp;

The move is not described as a diplomatic boycott and the&nbsp;Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said that there were "no plans" for officials to attend the Games.&nbsp;

Winter Olympics 2022 will start from February 4 and it is important to note that the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada earlier announced diplomatic boycotts of the Games over reported human rights abuses by China, including against the Muslim Uyghur minority. Athletes from the mentioned countries will participate as mentioned.

China has repeatedly declined the allegations.&nbsp;

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Matsuno said, "Japan believes it is important that common values shared by the international community such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law are also respected in China."

"As Tokyo 2020 demonstrated to the world, the Olympics and the Paralympics are festivals of peace and sports that give courage to the world," he added.&nbsp;

Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto and Japanese Olympic Committee head Yasuhiro Yamashita will attend the event in the Chinese capital.

"Hashimoto will attend to express gratitude and respect to the athletes and others who supported the Tokyo Games," Matsuno said.

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China's reaction

In response to Japan's decision, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular news conference that China welcomed the Olympic officials and athletes from Japan.&nbsp;

For the unversed, China did not send a government delegation to the Tokyo Summer Olympics this year, but only a sports delegation, led by the sports bureau chief.&nbsp;

Lijian said, "China welcomes the Japanese Olympic Committee, other relevant persons and Japanese athletes to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics."

"We have noted the relevant remarks from the Japanese government. We hope and urge the Japanese side to implement China and Japan's commitments to support each other's Olympic Games and not to politicise sports," he added.&nbsp;

"China is confident that it can work with all parties to realise a more united Olympic spirit and present a simple, safe and exciting Olympic Games to the world," he further said.&nbsp;

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said this month he was staying politically neutral on the matter, insisting the important point was "the participation of the athletes".

(With inputs from agencies)

After Japan announced that it will not send government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, China's foreign ministry on Friday (December 24) has urged Japan not to "politicise sports".

After Japan announced that it will not send government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, China's foreign ministry on Friday (December 24) has urged Japan not to "politicise sports". The move is not described as a diplomatic boycott and the Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said that there were "no plans" for officials to attend the Games. Winter Olympics 2022 will start from February 4 and it is important to note that the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada earlier announced diplomatic boycotts of the Games over reported human rights abuses by China, including against the Muslim Uyghur minority. Athletes from the mentioned countries will participate as mentioned. China has repeatedly declined the allegations. ALSO READ | Intel apologises to Chinese population for hurting their sentiments over Xinjiang comments Matsuno said, "Japan believes it is important that common values shared by the international community such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law are also respected in China." "As Tokyo 2020 demonstrated to the world, the Olympics and the Paralympics are festivals of peace and sports that give courage to the world," he added. Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto and Japanese Olympic Committee head Yasuhiro Yamashita will attend the event in the Chinese capital. "Hashimoto will attend to express gratitude and respect to the athletes and others who supported the Tokyo Games," Matsuno said. ALSO READ | Multiple officials in China's X'ian city punished over virus outbreak China's reaction In response to Japan's decision, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular news conference that China welcomed the Olympic officials and athletes from Japan. For the unversed, China did not send a government delegation to the Tokyo Summer Olympics this year, but only a sports delegation, led by the sports bureau chief. Lijian said, "China welcomes the Japanese Olympic Committee, other relevant persons and Japanese athletes to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics." "We have noted the relevant remarks from the Japanese government. We hope and urge the Japanese side to implement China and Japan's commitments to support each other's Olympic Games and not to politicise sports," he added. "China is confident that it can work with all parties to realise a more united Olympic spirit and present a simple, safe and exciting Olympic Games to the world," he further said. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said this month he was staying politically neutral on the matter, insisting the important point was "the participation of the athletes". (With inputs from agencies)

'Do not politicise sports': China slams Japan's decision not to send govt officials to Beijing Olympics

After calls for diplomatic boycott, the new virus variant Omicron is the latest hurdle for Beijing Winter Olympics, however, China remains confident that the games will go smoothly and on schedule.

After diplomatic boycott, Omicron the latest hurdle for Beijing Winter Olympics?

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, confirmed on Thursday that he would not be attending the Beijing Olympics in February.

His comments in parliament came after the US launched a diplomatic boycott of the games in response to mounting criticism of China's human rights record, a decision that has been echoed by other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

The question of whether Japan will send top officials to the Winter Olympics in February has resurfaced, following the announcements by the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom that their officials will not attend the games.

According to Kishida, Japan would make a decision after thoroughly considering numerous concerns in the national interest.&nbsp; 
 
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The boycotts have been described by China as "political posturing" and a smear campaign.

Kishida made the remark in the House of Representatives. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Meet Japan's 100th Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-meet-japans-100th-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-416951/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Japan, a key ally of the US, is concerned about what it believes to be escalating Chinese threats.

But, as a manufacturing hub and a buyer for its autos and other products, it is economically dependent on its neighbour.

According to the Yomiuri newspaper, senior Japanese government officials are likely to miss the Games, despite government officials saying that nothing has been determined so far.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, confirmed on Thursday that he would not be attending the Beijing Olympics in February. His comments in parliament came after the US launched a diplomatic boycott of the games in response to mounting criticism of China's human rights record, a decision that has been echoed by other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, confirmed on Thursday that he would not be attending the Beijing Olympics in February. His comments in parliament came after the US launched a diplomatic boycott of the games in response to mounting criticism of China's human rights record, a decision that has been echoed by other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom. The question of whether Japan will send top officials to the Winter Olympics in February has resurfaced, following the announcements by the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom that their officials will not attend the games. According to Kishida, Japan would make a decision after thoroughly considering numerous concerns in the national interest. Watch | Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election The boycotts have been described by China as "political posturing" and a smear campaign. Kishida made the remark in the House of Representatives. Watch | Gravitas: Meet Japan's 100th Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Japan, a key ally of the US, is concerned about what it believes to be escalating Chinese threats. But, as a manufacturing hub and a buyer for its autos and other products, it is economically dependent on its neighbour. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, senior Japanese government officials are likely to miss the Games, despite government officials saying that nothing has been determined so far. (With inputs from agencies)

'No plans to attend Beijing Olympics': Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

Canada joined a growing list of countries refusing to send government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics. The US, UK and Australia have already said that they won't send official delegations to the Games in response to China's human rights violations against Uyghurs.

Canada joins US, UK & Australia in diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

Winter Olympics have become the hotbed of political controversies. In the latest, Canada has joined Australia, Britain, United States and New Zealand in the diplomatic boycott of games to be held in Beijing.

Nations boycott Beijing Winter Olympics, Canada latest to join the bandwagon

France&nbsp;will not join a diplomatic boycott by other Western countries of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, Education and Sports Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said Thursday.

Asked about a boycott announced by the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada, Blanquer told RMC radio and BFM television that&nbsp;France&nbsp;"won't do it".&nbsp;

"We need to be careful about the link between sports and politics," Blanquer said during the interview.

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"Sports is a world apart that needs to be protected from political interference. If not, things can get out of control and it could end up killing all of the competitions."

He said that&nbsp;France&nbsp;would carry on condemning human rights violations in China.&nbsp;

He will not travel to the Chinese capital, he said, but junior sports minister Roxana Maracineanu will represent the French government.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was still seeking a common EU stance on the issue when asked about a possible boycott during a press conference at around the same time.&nbsp;

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"When it comes to the issue of the diplomatic boycott, this question will be dealt with at the European level," he told journalists.&nbsp;

China warned Western nations on Thursday they would "pay the price" for a diplomatic boycott.

Washington announced its boycott earlier in the week, saying it was prompted by widespread rights abuses by China and what it sees as a "genocide" against the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

France will not join a diplomatic boycott by other Western countries of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, Education and Sports Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said Thursday.

France will not join a diplomatic boycott by other Western countries of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, Education and Sports Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said Thursday. Asked about a boycott announced by the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada, Blanquer told RMC radio and BFM television that France "won't do it". "We need to be careful about the link between sports and politics," Blanquer said during the interview. ALSO READ: Canada announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics citing human rights violations by China "Sports is a world apart that needs to be protected from political interference. If not, things can get out of control and it could end up killing all of the competitions." He said that France would carry on condemning human rights violations in China. He will not travel to the Chinese capital, he said, but junior sports minister Roxana Maracineanu will represent the French government. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was still seeking a common EU stance on the issue when asked about a possible boycott during a press conference at around the same time. ALSO READ | Chinese Embassy in Australia reacts to diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics: 'Mountains can't stop the river' "When it comes to the issue of the diplomatic boycott, this question will be dealt with at the European level," he told journalists. China warned Western nations on Thursday they would "pay the price" for a diplomatic boycott. Washington announced its boycott earlier in the week, saying it was prompted by widespread rights abuses by China and what it sees as a "genocide" against the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

France minister confirms country will not join boycott of Beijing Olympics

The United States is about to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, escalating tensions between the world's two largest economies, CNN reports.

The decision not to send any US government officials to the games, which begin on February 4, will be revealed this week, according to the media site, which cited numerous anonymous sources.&nbsp;

A request for comment from media was not immediately returned by China's Foreign Ministry. 
 
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The White House did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp; 
 
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Last month, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a diplomatic boycott to protest China's human rights record, which includes what the US claims is genocide against minority Muslims.

Activists and members of Congress have pressured the government to skip the games.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the White House declined to comment on CNN's allegation.

News reports stated that four individuals familiar with the administration's thinking said there was a growing agreement within the White House to keep US officials out of the Beijing Olympics.&nbsp; 
 
According to the report, a complete boycott is unlikely, thus US athletes will be able to compete.The last time the United States boycotted the Olympics was in 1980, under the presidency of former President Jimmy Carter.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States is about to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, escalating tensions between the world's two largest economies, CNN reports.

The United States is about to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, escalating tensions between the world's two largest economies, CNN reports. The decision not to send any US government officials to the games, which begin on February 4, will be revealed this week, according to the media site, which cited numerous anonymous sources. A request for comment from media was not immediately returned by China's Foreign Ministry. Also read | Australia mulling diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Also read | Omicron will 'lead to challenges' for the winter Olympics: China Last month, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a diplomatic boycott to protest China's human rights record, which includes what the US claims is genocide against minority Muslims. Activists and members of Congress have pressured the government to skip the games. On Sunday, the White House declined to comment on CNN's allegation. News reports stated that four individuals familiar with the administration's thinking said there was a growing agreement within the White House to keep US officials out of the Beijing Olympics. According to the report, a complete boycott is unlikely, thus US athletes will be able to compete.The last time the United States boycotted the Olympics was in 1980, under the presidency of former President Jimmy Carter. (With inputs from agencies)

United States to declare diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics: Report

U.S. politicians should stop calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to avoid hurting bilateral ties and China will take "countermeasures" if necessary, China`s foreign ministry said on Monday.

The Biden administration is expected to announce this week that U.S. government officials will not attend the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, CNN reported on Sunday.

Those calling for a boycott are "grandstanding" and should stop "so as not to affect the dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in important areas," said Zhao Lijian, China`s foreign ministry spokesman.

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"If the U.S. insists in wilfully clinging to its course, China will take resolute countermeasures," he said at a news conference.

U.S. President Joe Biden said last month that he was considering such a diplomatic boycott to protest China's human rights record, including what Washington says is genocide against minority Muslims.

The administration has been under pressure from activists and members of Congress to skip the games.

The White House declined to comment on CNN's report on Sunday.

Four sources with knowledge of the administration's thinking previously told Reuters that there was a growing consensus within the White House to keep U.S. officials away from the Beijing Olympics.

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CNN said the U.S. boycott would not prevent its athletes from competing in the games.

The State Department did not respond to questions about the report late Sunday.

U.S. politicians should stop calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to avoid hurting bilateral ties and China will take "countermeasures" if necessary, China`s foreign ministry said on Monday.

U.S. politicians should stop calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to avoid hurting bilateral ties and China will take "countermeasures" if necessary, China`s foreign ministry said on Monday. The Biden administration is expected to announce this week that U.S. government officials will not attend the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, CNN reported on Sunday. Those calling for a boycott are "grandstanding" and should stop "so as not to affect the dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in important areas," said Zhao Lijian, China`s foreign ministry spokesman. ALSO READ: United States to declare diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics: Report "If the U.S. insists in wilfully clinging to its course, China will take resolute countermeasures," he said at a news conference. U.S. President Joe Biden said last month that he was considering such a diplomatic boycott to protest China's human rights record, including what Washington says is genocide against minority Muslims. The administration has been under pressure from activists and members of Congress to skip the games. The White House declined to comment on CNN's report on Sunday. Four sources with knowledge of the administration's thinking previously told Reuters that there was a growing consensus within the White House to keep U.S. officials away from the Beijing Olympics. ALSO READ| Australia mulling diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics CNN said the U.S. boycott would not prevent its athletes from competing in the games. The State Department did not respond to questions about the report late Sunday.

China threatens countermeasures if U.S. boycotts Beijing Winter Olympics

President Joe Biden said Thursday he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China's rights abuses without impacting US athletes.

That is "something we are considering," Biden told reporters while meeting with Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, at the White House. The Beijing Olympics take place next February.

Biden's comments followed a long-awaited video summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping late Monday, during which the two leaders said they wanted to ensure stability and prevent accidental conflicts.

The US president is under pressure at home to speak out on China's human rights abuses, especially in the Xinjiang region where the US government says repression of the Uyghur ethnic group qualifies as genocide.

Campaigners say that at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

China's foreign ministry on Friday brushed off the rights accusations as "inconsistent with the truth and completely groundless," calling Washington's claims a "joke in the eyes of Chinese people."

"Politicising sports is against the Olympic spirit, and harms the interests of athletes from all countries," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing Friday.

On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Biden administration would soon announce a diplomatic boycott, meaning that while athletes would still compete, government representatives would not be in the stands.

White House officials said that the issue was not raised during the Biden-Xi virtual summit.

- Balancing act -

US-China relations hit a low point under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, with a massive trade war and incendiary debate over how the Covid-19 virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Biden has sought to re-engage with Beijing, while at the same time focusing on strengthening traditional US alliances to counter China's ever-growing economic clout and military presence across the Indo-Pacific region.

He has held two lengthy phone calls with Xi and was keen to meet in person.&nbsp;

But with the Chinese leader not traveling outside of the country since the start of the Covid pandemic, this week's virtual summit was the only possible next step.

Following Biden's mention of a possible Olympics boycott, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she did not "have an update on what our presence will be."

"I want to give the national security team and the president space to make the decision," she said.

For Biden, that decision will be part of a complex diplomatic balancing act.

His administration has left Trump-era trade tariffs on China in place and continues to order naval patrols through sensitive international sea lanes that China is accused of trying to bring under its control.

However, with Biden also emphasizing the need for dialogue, critics on the right say he is being too soft.

This makes the looming Olympic Games a political flashpoint.

"The United States must implement a complete and total boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The threat to our athletes and China's crimes against humanity leave us no other option," Republican Senator Tom Cotton tweeted Thursday.

Psaki said the White House sees US-China relations "through the prism of competition, not conflict."

However, she added, "we have serious concerns" about human rights.

President Joe Biden said Thursday he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China's rights abuses without impacting US athletes.

President Joe Biden said Thursday he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China's rights abuses without impacting US athletes. That is "something we are considering," Biden told reporters while meeting with Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, at the White House. The Beijing Olympics take place next February. Biden's comments followed a long-awaited video summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping late Monday, during which the two leaders said they wanted to ensure stability and prevent accidental conflicts. The US president is under pressure at home to speak out on China's human rights abuses, especially in the Xinjiang region where the US government says repression of the Uyghur ethnic group qualifies as genocide. Campaigners say that at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour. China's foreign ministry on Friday brushed off the rights accusations as "inconsistent with the truth and completely groundless," calling Washington's claims a "joke in the eyes of Chinese people." "Politicising sports is against the Olympic spirit, and harms the interests of athletes from all countries," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing Friday. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Biden administration would soon announce a diplomatic boycott, meaning that while athletes would still compete, government representatives would not be in the stands. White House officials said that the issue was not raised during the Biden-Xi virtual summit. - Balancing act - US-China relations hit a low point under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, with a massive trade war and incendiary debate over how the Covid-19 virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Biden has sought to re-engage with Beijing, while at the same time focusing on strengthening traditional US alliances to counter China's ever-growing economic clout and military presence across the Indo-Pacific region. He has held two lengthy phone calls with Xi and was keen to meet in person. But with the Chinese leader not traveling outside of the country since the start of the Covid pandemic, this week's virtual summit was the only possible next step. Following Biden's mention of a possible Olympics boycott, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she did not "have an update on what our presence will be." "I want to give the national security team and the president space to make the decision," she said. For Biden, that decision will be part of a complex diplomatic balancing act. His administration has left Trump-era trade tariffs on China in place and continues to order naval patrols through sensitive international sea lanes that China is accused of trying to bring under its control. However, with Biden also emphasizing the need for dialogue, critics on the right say he is being too soft. This makes the looming Olympic Games a political flashpoint. "The United States must implement a complete and total boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The threat to our athletes and China's crimes against humanity leave us no other option," Republican Senator Tom Cotton tweeted Thursday. Psaki said the White House sees US-China relations "through the prism of competition, not conflict." However, she added, "we have serious concerns" about human rights.

China says 'politicising sports' hurts Olympic spirit as Joe Biden mulls boycott

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Beijing Olympics in February 2022 as he has accepted an invitation by China, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia said on Thursday (September 16).&nbsp;

During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Tajikistan, Lavrov said, "Putin with delight has accepted the invitation of Xi Jinping to visit the Winter Olympic Games in February 2022."&nbsp;

Lavrov said he hopes Putin and Xi can meet in person and that Russian and Chinese athletes "will once against demonstrate their high sporting and personal qualities", according to the TASS news agency.&nbsp;

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The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held from February 4-20 in China's capital Beijing and in the neighbouring Hebei province.&nbsp;

However, it is important to note that Moscow remains under penalties for state-sponsored doping as Russian athletes are barred from competing at major international events, including the Olympics.&nbsp;

Russian government officials also cannot be issued an Olympic accreditation unless they are invited by the head of state of the host nation.&nbsp;

Russia was banned from international competitions for two years as punishment for state-sponsored doping and its cover-ups at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) handed Russia a four-year ban from top sporting events.&nbsp;

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But those sanctions were relaxed to some extent by a sports arbitration court and were reduced to two years and the athletes who weren't involved in the scandal were able to compete in Olympic competition.&nbsp;

Some Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag and represent the committee. They are not allowed to compete under their own flag, their national anthem won't play after they win.&nbsp;

Russia's participation at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics 2020, which took place this year in August and September, was criticised as more than 300 Russian competitors took part as neutral athletes.

They brought home 20 golds, ranking fifth in the medals tally.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Beijing Olympics in February 2022 as he has accepted an invitation by China, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia said on Thursday (September 16).

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Beijing Olympics in February 2022 as he has accepted an invitation by China, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia said on Thursday (September 16). During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Tajikistan, Lavrov said, "Putin with delight has accepted the invitation of Xi Jinping to visit the Winter Olympic Games in February 2022." Lavrov said he hopes Putin and Xi can meet in person and that Russian and Chinese athletes "will once against demonstrate their high sporting and personal qualities", according to the TASS news agency. ALSO READ | What is the United Nations General Assembly and what are its functions and responsibilities? The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held from February 4-20 in China's capital Beijing and in the neighbouring Hebei province. However, it is important to note that Moscow remains under penalties for state-sponsored doping as Russian athletes are barred from competing at major international events, including the Olympics. Russian government officials also cannot be issued an Olympic accreditation unless they are invited by the head of state of the host nation. Russia was banned from international competitions for two years as punishment for state-sponsored doping and its cover-ups at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) handed Russia a four-year ban from top sporting events. ALSO READ | UK's Boris Johnson reshuffles his cabinet; Dominic Raab ousted for Afghan crisis But those sanctions were relaxed to some extent by a sports arbitration court and were reduced to two years and the athletes who weren't involved in the scandal were able to compete in Olympic competition. Some Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag and represent the committee. They are not allowed to compete under their own flag, their national anthem won't play after they win. Russia's participation at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics 2020, which took place this year in August and September, was criticised as more than 300 Russian competitors took part as neutral athletes. They brought home 20 golds, ranking fifth in the medals tally. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin to attend 2022 Beijing Olympics as Russia remains under penalties for doping

The United States State Department denied it was considering a joint boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing alongside allies and partners in an effort to address China's human rights abuses.

US backs away from idea of Beijing Olympics boycott

The US says China has committed genocide in Xinjiang. Its human rights report says the Uighurs are on target.

More than one million of them were randomly put in jail. They were tortured, men faced forced sterilisation, women were raped, forced into getting abortions, and then forced into labour.

None of this is a secret. The world has known about all of this for a while now. The United States chose to release the report only last month. It went on to slap sanctions on China. But that may not be enough.

So, team Biden is considering another way to embarrass China. Boycotting the Winter Olympics in Beijing. They're scheduled for 2022. Will the US boycott the games?

They're considering the possibility. We got the first hint on Tuesday US State Department spokesperson &nbsp;Ned Price was holding a press conference. He said Washington wants to discuss the joint boycott with allies.

He said, "It is something that we certainly wish to discuss and that it is certainly something that we understand that a coordinated approach will be not only in our interests but also in the interests of our allies and partners. So this is one of the issues that are on the agenda both now and going forward, and when we have something to announce, we will be sure to do that."

He couldn't have been clearer. The US will sound out its allies. Perhaps ask them to withdraw from the games.

The statement created quite a stir. So much so that the state department came up with a clarification. It said there has been no discussion about a joint boycott with allies.

That doesn't mean there will be no discussion in the day ahead. This is enough to raise the hackles of Beijing. It deployed Zhao Lijian to respond, the wolf warrior-in-chief.

What did he say? America is politicising the Olympics.

"If the US insists on ignoring the real truth and facts and deliberately uses lies to smear and attack China, this will certainly be doomed to fail. Not only will it damage the US’s reputation and interests, but will also definitely encounter the firm opposition of the Chinese people and a strong response from China."

Is this an overreaction? Not in the least. The call for boycotting Beijing Olympics isn't new.

Last year in September, more than 160 human rights groups spoke against China.

They wanted the International Olympic Committee or the IOC to revoke the Winter Olympic Games from China.

Then in October, Uighur rights groups met the IOC. They shared stories of detainees.

They told the Olympic committee about human rights abuses in Xinjiang. And also what's happening in Tibet and Hong Kong

Their demand was the same: Take the Olympic Games out of Beijing.

How did the IOC respond? Not very favourably. According to one Uighur representative, their concerns were "completely dismissed".

Zumretay Arki of the World Uighur Congress says the IOC is hiding behind political neutrality. And that the committee is willing to host "genocidal Olympic games".

"When we met with the IOC in October, we asked them to listen to our voices but instead they completely dismissed our experiences and sufferings,” Arki said.

The pressure is mounting. Not just on China and the International Olympics Committee, but also the sponsors.

Companies like Visa and Coca Cola are the "Olympic partners" for this event. They're facing criticism. Another sponsor Airbnb is facing tough questions. It is being asked why it is providing lodging in a country that has concentration camps for Uighurs.

For big sponsors, this is a test of their corporate social responsibility.

But exiting won't be easy. Any boycott is sure to invite a backlash from China.

Ask H&amp;M and Nike: they've faced a state engineered boycott in China. That's because they said they won't buy cotton from Xinjiang. Moral of the story: boycotting China won't be easy. China will fight back.

But it cannot fight everyone. So the boycott must be a joint effort. How can the world do it?

The Eurasia group - a political risk consultancy firm - has put together a report. It has listed three ways in which the world can boycott the winter games.

Number one: A diplomatic boycott.

That's something the US has hinted at. America could join at least one other major western country and boycott the games in China. The Eurasia group says this is the most likely scenario with a 60 per cent probability.

Their report says the likely participants in such a boycott could be the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia. Some European countries could join in too.

Possibility number two: An athletic boycott.

What does this mean? One or more western countries could stop their athletes from participating in the games. They could consider an economic boycott as well, with a ban on US spectators, broadcasters and sponsors. So basically, this option is about discouraging any form of participation at home. The probability of this is 30 per cent.

The final option is an outlier scenario.

This one rules out a boycott. Instead, &nbsp;countries could just issue "mild political statements about the games". The Eurasia group says there is only a 10 per cent chance of this happening.

So will the Beijing Olympics be boycotted?

We'll have to wait for the answer.

Have Olympic Games been boycotted? The answer is yes. The last time this happened was in 1980. That's when the US had led a diplomatic boycott against Moscow.

This was over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. A total of 65 countries had refused to participate in the games.

Today, if America chooses to take a stand against China and withdraws its athletes from the winter games, &nbsp;there's a good chance that more nations will follow suit.

For China, the trend would be hard to miss.

First, governments calling out the genocide in Xinjiang. Then, international brands following suit, talking about forced labour in Xinjiang's cotton fields.

What is China doing about all of this?

Xinjiang produces 20% of the world's cotton.

China cannot afford a boycott. So it has launched a propaganda campaign.

It involves fashion shows and musicals. Videos of Uighurs singing, dancing and falling in love. The idea is to show that everything is normal in Xinjiang. 
 
The question is, who is believing China?

How far can you go to win a narrative war?

When it comes to China, the country knows no limits.

Here's an example. Most of you already know what's happening in this part of the world.

Xinjiang is the home to Uighur Muslims. They are an ethnic minority that China has waged a war on. One million Uighurs have been put in concentration camps.

What happens behind these walls can be summed up as: Forced organ transplants, rape, sterilisation, forced conversions, and medical experiments.

China is guilty of orchestrating a genocide. Beijing will never accept it. China is also guilty of forced labour. Uighurs have been forced to work in the cotton fields of Xinjiang. Recently, the EU, Britain and Canada imposed sanction on Chinese officials.

Hell broke loose when H&amp;M issued a statement on forced labour in Xinjiang. More brands followed suit.

China pushed back hard. It began punishing businesses that raised questions on Xinjiang. International brands like Nike, H&amp;M, Adidas were taken off Chinese e-commerce apps. They were also removed from maps.

Reports say H&amp;M was forced to close 20 outlets. Chinese celebrities publicly junked endorsement deals with international brands.

Chinese media openly issued threats. Spokespersons blew the war bugle on social media. And designers turned ramps into battlefields with their patriotic outcries.

Chief designer of Sun-bird, Zhou Li said: "As a Chinese designer, of course, my support for Xinjiang cotton is correct. For me, I think Xinjiang cotton is my sweetheart, my lover. This time I want to thank him. He brought me so much joy."

Too much drama? Watch this footage.

This is China trying to portray Xinjiang as a happy place. You know, where Uighurs sing, dance, fall in love. The Chinese Communist Party has sponsored a musical called the Wings of Songs. It paints a Utopian picture of Xinjiang. This is the latest addition to China's propaganda campaign.

Like you just saw, the campaign has turned into a comedy.

Guess what? There's more. Chinese TV stations have been blurring out logos of western brands. The result looks like this: People floating on clouds. People whose bodies have disappeared.

We told you, China can go far in a bid to win a narrative war. It's another story that China's bluff was called out long back.

And with all the drama, the dragon is now only making a spectacle of itself.

The US says China has committed genocide in Xinjiang. Its human rights report says the Uighurs are on target. More than one million of them were randomly put in jail.

The US says China has committed genocide in Xinjiang. Its human rights report says the Uighurs are on target. More than one million of them were randomly put in jail. They were tortured, men faced forced sterilisation, women were raped, forced into getting abortions, and then forced into labour. None of this is a secret. The world has known about all of this for a while now. The United States chose to release the report only last month. It went on to slap sanctions on China. But that may not be enough. So, team Biden is considering another way to embarrass China. Boycotting the Winter Olympics in Beijing. They're scheduled for 2022. Will the US boycott the games? They're considering the possibility. We got the first hint on Tuesday US State Department spokesperson Ned Price was holding a press conference. He said Washington wants to discuss the joint boycott with allies. He said, "It is something that we certainly wish to discuss and that it is certainly something that we understand that a coordinated approach will be not only in our interests but also in the interests of our allies and partners. So this is one of the issues that are on the agenda both now and going forward, and when we have something to announce, we will be sure to do that." He couldn't have been clearer. The US will sound out its allies. Perhaps ask them to withdraw from the games. The statement created quite a stir. So much so that the state department came up with a clarification. It said there has been no discussion about a joint boycott with allies. That doesn't mean there will be no discussion in the day ahead. This is enough to raise the hackles of Beijing. It deployed Zhao Lijian to respond, the wolf warrior-in-chief. What did he say? America is politicising the Olympics. "If the US insists on ignoring the real truth and facts and deliberately uses lies to smear and attack China, this will certainly be doomed to fail. Not only will it damage the US’s reputation and interests, but will also definitely encounter the firm opposition of the Chinese people and a strong response from China." Is this an overreaction? Not in the least. The call for boycotting Beijing Olympics isn't new. Last year in September, more than 160 human rights groups spoke against China. They wanted the International Olympic Committee or the IOC to revoke the Winter Olympic Games from China. Then in October, Uighur rights groups met the IOC. They shared stories of detainees. They told the Olympic committee about human rights abuses in Xinjiang. And also what's happening in Tibet and Hong Kong Their demand was the same: Take the Olympic Games out of Beijing. How did the IOC respond? Not very favourably. According to one Uighur representative, their concerns were "completely dismissed". Zumretay Arki of the World Uighur Congress says the IOC is hiding behind political neutrality. And that the committee is willing to host "genocidal Olympic games". "When we met with the IOC in October, we asked them to listen to our voices but instead they completely dismissed our experiences and sufferings,” Arki said. The pressure is mounting. Not just on China and the International Olympics Committee, but also the sponsors. Companies like Visa and Coca Cola are the "Olympic partners" for this event. They're facing criticism. Another sponsor Airbnb is facing tough questions. It is being asked why it is providing lodging in a country that has concentration camps for Uighurs. For big sponsors, this is a test of their corporate social responsibility. But exiting won't be easy. Any boycott is sure to invite a backlash from China. Ask H&M and Nike: they've faced a state engineered boycott in China. That's because they said they won't buy cotton from Xinjiang. Moral of the story: boycotting China won't be easy. China will fight back. But it cannot fight everyone. So the boycott must be a joint effort. How can the world do it? The Eurasia group - a political risk consultancy firm - has put together a report. It has listed three ways in which the world can boycott the winter games. Number one: A diplomatic boycott. That's something the US has hinted at. America could join at least one other major western country and boycott the games in China. The Eurasia group says this is the most likely scenario with a 60 per cent probability. Their report says the likely participants in such a boycott could be the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia. Some European countries could join in too. Possibility number two: An athletic boycott. What does this mean? One or more western countries could stop their athletes from participating in the games. They could consider an economic boycott as well, with a ban on US spectators, broadcasters and sponsors. So basically, this option is about discouraging any form of participation at home. The probability of this is 30 per cent. The final option is an outlier scenario. This one rules out a boycott. Instead, countries could just issue "mild political statements about the games". The Eurasia group says there is only a 10 per cent chance of this happening. So will the Beijing Olympics be boycotted? We'll have to wait for the answer. Have Olympic Games been boycotted? The answer is yes. The last time this happened was in 1980. That's when the US had led a diplomatic boycott against Moscow. This was over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. A total of 65 countries had refused to participate in the games. Today, if America chooses to take a stand against China and withdraws its athletes from the winter games, there's a good chance that more nations will follow suit. For China, the trend would be hard to miss. First, governments calling out the genocide in Xinjiang. Then, international brands following suit, talking about forced labour in Xinjiang's cotton fields. What is China doing about all of this? Xinjiang produces 20% of the world's cotton. China cannot afford a boycott. So it has launched a propaganda campaign. It involves fashion shows and musicals. Videos of Uighurs singing, dancing and falling in love. The idea is to show that everything is normal in Xinjiang. The question is, who is believing China? How far can you go to win a narrative war? When it comes to China, the country knows no limits. Here's an example. Most of you already know what's happening in this part of the world. Xinjiang is the home to Uighur Muslims. They are an ethnic minority that China has waged a war on. One million Uighurs have been put in concentration camps. What happens behind these walls can be summed up as: Forced organ transplants, rape, sterilisation, forced conversions, and medical experiments. China is guilty of orchestrating a genocide. Beijing will never accept it. China is also guilty of forced labour. Uighurs have been forced to work in the cotton fields of Xinjiang. Recently, the EU, Britain and Canada imposed sanction on Chinese officials. Hell broke loose when H&M issued a statement on forced labour in Xinjiang. More brands followed suit. China pushed back hard. It began punishing businesses that raised questions on Xinjiang. International brands like Nike, H&M, Adidas were taken off Chinese e-commerce apps. They were also removed from maps. Reports say H&M was forced to close 20 outlets. Chinese celebrities publicly junked endorsement deals with international brands. Chinese media openly issued threats. Spokespersons blew the war bugle on social media. And designers turned ramps into battlefields with their patriotic outcries. Chief designer of Sun-bird, Zhou Li said: "As a Chinese designer, of course, my support for Xinjiang cotton is correct. For me, I think Xinjiang cotton is my sweetheart, my lover. This time I want to thank him. He brought me so much joy." Too much drama? Watch this footage. This is China trying to portray Xinjiang as a happy place. You know, where Uighurs sing, dance, fall in love. The Chinese Communist Party has sponsored a musical called the Wings of Songs. It paints a Utopian picture of Xinjiang. This is the latest addition to China's propaganda campaign. Like you just saw, the campaign has turned into a comedy. Guess what? There's more. Chinese TV stations have been blurring out logos of western brands. The result looks like this: People floating on clouds. People whose bodies have disappeared. We told you, China can go far in a bid to win a narrative war. It's another story that China's bluff was called out long back. And with all the drama, the dragon is now only making a spectacle of itself.

Will the world boycott China's Winter Olympics?

The United States said Tuesday it would discuss calls to boycott the Beijing Olympics with its allies after growing pressure to shun the Winter Games on human rights grounds.

"It is something that we certainly wish to discuss," State Department spokesman Ned Price said when asked if the United States would consider a joint boycott with allies.

However he later reiterated that the United States does not "have any announcement regarding the Beijing Olympics," writing on Twitter that "2022 remains a ways off, but we will continue to consult closely with allies and partners to define our common concerns and establish our shared approach."

Activists and Republican politicians have increasingly called for a boycott of the Olympics in part over what rights monitors say is the mass incarceration and indoctrination of more than one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim people in the western region of Xinjiang.

"When it comes to our concerns with the government in Beijing, including Beijing's egregious human rights violations -- its conduct of genocide in the case of Xinjiang," Price said, US action is "meaningful" but an effort that "brings along our allies and partners will have all the more influence with Beijing."

"We understand that a coordinated approach will be not only in our interest but also in the interests of our allies and partners," he added.

President Joe Biden's administration has repeatedly kept the door open to boycotting the Olympics without announcing any firm direction.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki earlier said the administration will consult with the US Olympic Committee.

A potential boycott of the Beijing Olympics has increasingly become embroiled in US domestic politics with Republicans seeking to call Biden hypocritical for backing the moving of baseball's All-Star Game from Georgia after the US state made voting more difficult for many people of color.

Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who after leaving office urged a boycott of the Olympics, wrote on Twitter: "If you live in mainland China, there's no voter ID required because there's no voting that takes place."

China has denounced calls for a boycott and denies genocide, saying it is providing vocational training to minorities to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism.

The United States led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, with the Soviet bloc in retaliation boycotting the Summer Games in Los Angeles four years later.

The United States said Tuesday it would discuss calls to boycott the Beijing Olympics with its allies after growing pressure to shun the Winter Games on human rights grounds.

The United States said Tuesday it would discuss calls to boycott the Beijing Olympics with its allies after growing pressure to shun the Winter Games on human rights grounds. "It is something that we certainly wish to discuss," State Department spokesman Ned Price said when asked if the United States would consider a joint boycott with allies. However he later reiterated that the United States does not "have any announcement regarding the Beijing Olympics," writing on Twitter that "2022 remains a ways off, but we will continue to consult closely with allies and partners to define our common concerns and establish our shared approach." Activists and Republican politicians have increasingly called for a boycott of the Olympics in part over what rights monitors say is the mass incarceration and indoctrination of more than one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim people in the western region of Xinjiang. "When it comes to our concerns with the government in Beijing, including Beijing's egregious human rights violations -- its conduct of genocide in the case of Xinjiang," Price said, US action is "meaningful" but an effort that "brings along our allies and partners will have all the more influence with Beijing." "We understand that a coordinated approach will be not only in our interest but also in the interests of our allies and partners," he added. President Joe Biden's administration has repeatedly kept the door open to boycotting the Olympics without announcing any firm direction. White House press secretary Jen Psaki earlier said the administration will consult with the US Olympic Committee. A potential boycott of the Beijing Olympics has increasingly become embroiled in US domestic politics with Republicans seeking to call Biden hypocritical for backing the moving of baseball's All-Star Game from Georgia after the US state made voting more difficult for many people of color. Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who after leaving office urged a boycott of the Olympics, wrote on Twitter: "If you live in mainland China, there's no voter ID required because there's no voting that takes place." China has denounced calls for a boycott and denies genocide, saying it is providing vocational training to minorities to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism. The United States led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, with the Soviet bloc in retaliation boycotting the Summer Games in Los Angeles four years later.

US wants to 'discuss' Beijing winter Olympics boycott calls

A boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics would not bring home two Canadian men detained in China for more than two years or force a change to China`s human rights record but would only punish athletes, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said on Thursday. 
 
With the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Winter Games scheduled to start in exactly one year, the COC put out an op-ed confirming a commitment to take part in the 2022 Games as calls grow to boycott the event or have it moved from China. 
 
"My regular communication with athletes is via athletes commissions and we have had a few conversations on this topic but I must confess they don`t last very long," COC chief executive officer David Shoemaker told Reuters. 
 
"Our Canadian athletes are very much looking forward to the next two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Beijing. 
 
"Calls for boycotts aren`t new. Having said that, we do have a heightened level of concern." 
 
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) echoed a similar position on Wednesday saying they oppose boycotts because "they have been shown to negatively impact athletes while not effectively addressing global issues". 
 
A group of U.S. Senators, however, have a very different view, introducing a resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the Beijing Olympics following the U.S.’ designation the Chinese government was perpetrating a genocide by repressing Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region. 
 
GET TOUGH 
 
Canada`s participation at the Beijing Games has been further put in the spotlight by China`s detention of businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig in what Canada views as retribution for the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant. 
 
As Kovrig and Spavor languish in prison, calls for the Canadian government to get tough with China have grown. 
 
A July poll found more than half of Canadians believe Ottawa should take more aggressive action to persuade Beijing to release the two men who face spying charges. 
 
The COC underlined that it supports that effort but not at the expense of athletes, who too often have been the pawns in geo-political disputes. 
 
"We referenced the two Michaels in our op ed and we have had conversations with the government and directly with the Canadian ambassador to China," said Shoemaker. 
 
"We understand all of the issues of concern to Canadians in China and they are being addressed by the Canadian government as the highest priority. 
 
"It is our view that this is where we should place our trust and confidence and the Canadian Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee focus should be on delivering inspiring teams." 
 
PAST BOYCOTTS 
 
The IOC is no stranger to boycotts or the threat of one. 
 
The U.S. led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Summer Games over the Soviet Union`s presence in Afghanistan. 
 
Four years later in a tit-for-tat response the Soviet Union led a boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. 
 
Canada`s senior IOC member Dick Pound says in both instances nothing was accomplished. 
 
"If the Canadian government is mad at the Chinese government, it knows how to get that message to them," Pound told Reuters. "There are all kinds of recognised international measures available. 
 
"In 1980, the Canadian government leaned all over the COC and, over my dead body, capitulated, and it turned out the boycott was the only significant measure they took. 
 
"They know it is an ineffective gesture." 
 
 
 
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Ken Ferris) 
&nbsp;

A boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics would not bring home two Canadian men detained in China for more than two years or force a change to China`s human rights record but would only punish athletes, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said on Thursday.

A boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics would not bring home two Canadian men detained in China for more than two years or force a change to China`s human rights record but would only punish athletes, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said on Thursday. With the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Winter Games scheduled to start in exactly one year, the COC put out an op-ed confirming a commitment to take part in the 2022 Games as calls grow to boycott the event or have it moved from China. "My regular communication with athletes is via athletes commissions and we have had a few conversations on this topic but I must confess they don`t last very long," COC chief executive officer David Shoemaker told Reuters. "Our Canadian athletes are very much looking forward to the next two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Beijing. "Calls for boycotts aren`t new. Having said that, we do have a heightened level of concern." The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) echoed a similar position on Wednesday saying they oppose boycotts because "they have been shown to negatively impact athletes while not effectively addressing global issues". A group of U.S. Senators, however, have a very different view, introducing a resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the Beijing Olympics following the U.S.’ designation the Chinese government was perpetrating a genocide by repressing Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region. GET TOUGH Canada`s participation at the Beijing Games has been further put in the spotlight by China`s detention of businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig in what Canada views as retribution for the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant. As Kovrig and Spavor languish in prison, calls for the Canadian government to get tough with China have grown. A July poll found more than half of Canadians believe Ottawa should take more aggressive action to persuade Beijing to release the two men who face spying charges. The COC underlined that it supports that effort but not at the expense of athletes, who too often have been the pawns in geo-political disputes. "We referenced the two Michaels in our op ed and we have had conversations with the government and directly with the Canadian ambassador to China," said Shoemaker. "We understand all of the issues of concern to Canadians in China and they are being addressed by the Canadian government as the highest priority. "It is our view that this is where we should place our trust and confidence and the Canadian Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee focus should be on delivering inspiring teams." PAST BOYCOTTS The IOC is no stranger to boycotts or the threat of one. The U.S. led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Summer Games over the Soviet Union`s presence in Afghanistan. Four years later in a tit-for-tat response the Soviet Union led a boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Canada`s senior IOC member Dick Pound says in both instances nothing was accomplished. "If the Canadian government is mad at the Chinese government, it knows how to get that message to them," Pound told Reuters. "There are all kinds of recognised international measures available. "In 1980, the Canadian government leaned all over the COC and, over my dead body, capitulated, and it turned out the boycott was the only significant measure they took. "They know it is an ineffective gesture." (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Ken Ferris)

Beijing boycott not the answer says Canadian Olympic Committee

Indian sport achieved its biggest success at the Olympics when Abhinav Bindra ended decades of cynicism by shooting down the 10m air rifle gold in 2008. Bindra was India's first and only individual Olympic champion but that win in Beijing was built on the back of crushing defeat at the Athens games 4 years previously. Bindra opens up on his journey to the Olympic gold with sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo and details the attention to detail that saw him turn self-doubt into his biggest triumph on the world stage

Wion Broadband Olympic Edition: One in a billion Abhinav Bindra's golden moment in 2008

There was a wave of optimism surrounding Indian Boxing ahead of the 2008 Olympics. Akhil Kumar was a strong medal contender but while he and Jitender Kumar lost in the medal rounds, Vijender Singh took centre stage as he won a Bronze in the Men’s 75kg event. Singh had taken up the sport to secure a government job, his medal at Beijing made him one of India’s most loved icons.

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: Bhiwani boy becomes a global star

Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh won their Olympic medals in Beijing within a few hours of each other. Both were sons of the soil and both had to endure hardships growing up. The Olympic medal changed their lives in Beijing and both admit that it also opened a pathway for many more promising sportspersons from similar backgrounds to follow in their footsteps.

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: 3 medals that changed the sporting ecosystem

Jamaica&#39;s Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals and his perfect triple treble of Games&#39; sprint victories after team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Carter was found to have taken the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said, meaning Jamaica&#39;s 4x100 metres relay team must give back their gold medals.

Bolt is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time, having won an unprecedented treble of consecutive golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay in three straight Olympics.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s heartbreaking (the positive test) because over the years you&#39;ve worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion... but it&#39;s just one of those things,&quot; Bolt said.

&quot;Things happen in life, so when it&#39;s confirmed or whatever, if I need to give back my gold medal I&#39;d have to give it back, it&#39;s not a problem for me.&quot; Trinidad and Tobago are set to be promoted to gold in the Beijing 4x100, in which Jamaica set a then world record, with Japan moving up to silver and fourth-placed Brazil earning bronze.

A reallocation of medals is subject to any further results from the IOC anti-doping retesting programme.

First-leg specialist Carter has been a vital member of Jamaica&#39;s dominant squad, helping the Caribbean island win gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2011, 2013 and 2015 world championships. Carter returned a positive result in re-tests of samples from the Beijing Olympics for the prohibited stimulant methylhexaneamine, the IOC said.

Asafa Powell, who has himself served a six-month doping ban, and Michael Frater completed the Jamaica sprint team at the 2008 race. Nesta was unavailable to comment on Wednesday&#39;s IOC announcement, while Powell and Crater declined to comment.

&quot;The Jamaican team is disqualified from the men&rsquo;s 4x100m relay event. The corresponding medals, medallist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned,&quot; the IOC said.

&quot;The (international athletics&#39; federation) IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.&quot;

Methylhexanamine has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code prohibited list since 2004 although it was reclassified on the 2011 list as a &quot;specified substance&quot;. 
The IOC programme of revisiting samples uses developments in testing techniques to find traces of drugs that were undetectable in 2008 or at the London 2012 Games.

More than 100 athletes have so far tested positive in re-tests from the Beijing and the London Olympics.

(Reuters)

Nesta Carter was found to have taken a prohibited substance, meaning Jamaica's relay team must return their gold medal

Jamaica's Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals and his perfect triple treble of Games' sprint victories after team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Carter was found to have taken the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said, meaning Jamaica's 4x100 metres relay team must give back their gold medals. Bolt is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time, having won an unprecedented treble of consecutive golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay in three straight Olympics. "It's heartbreaking (the positive test) because over the years you've worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion... but it's just one of those things," Bolt said. "Things happen in life, so when it's confirmed or whatever, if I need to give back my gold medal I'd have to give it back, it's not a problem for me." Trinidad and Tobago are set to be promoted to gold in the Beijing 4x100, in which Jamaica set a then world record, with Japan moving up to silver and fourth-placed Brazil earning bronze. A reallocation of medals is subject to any further results from the IOC anti-doping retesting programme. First-leg specialist Carter has been a vital member of Jamaica's dominant squad, helping the Caribbean island win gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2011, 2013 and 2015 world championships. Carter returned a positive result in re-tests of samples from the Beijing Olympics for the prohibited stimulant methylhexaneamine, the IOC said. Asafa Powell, who has himself served a six-month doping ban, and Michael Frater completed the Jamaica sprint team at the 2008 race. Nesta was unavailable to comment on Wednesday's IOC announcement, while Powell and Crater declined to comment. "The Jamaican team is disqualified from the men’s 4x100m relay event. The corresponding medals, medallist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned," the IOC said. "The (international athletics' federation) IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence." Methylhexanamine has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code prohibited list since 2004 although it was reclassified on the 2011 list as a "specified substance". The IOC programme of revisiting samples uses developments in testing techniques to find traces of drugs that were undetectable in 2008 or at the London 2012 Games. More than 100 athletes have so far tested positive in re-tests from the Beijing and the London Olympics. (Reuters)

Usain Bolt loses relay gold after Jamaica's Carter fails drug test

Eleven weightlifters, including six medallists, produced positive samples in the second wave of doping retests from the 2012 London Olympics, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said yesterday. 
 
Russia&#39;s five-times European champion Nataliya Zabolotnaya was among three silver medallists from the London Games to fail tests along with compatriots Alexandr Ivanov and Svetlana Tzarukaeva. 
 
Zabolotnaya finished second in the women&rsquo;s -75kg event in London, repeating her silver-medal performance in Athens eight years earlier. 
 
Ivanov was world champion in 2010 and 2013 in the -94kg category, while Tzarukaeva won the world title in 2011 in the 63kg event. 
 
Other London medallists to fail tests included Iryna Kulesha of Belarus, Armenia&rsquo;s Hripsime Khurshudyan and Moldova&rsquo;s Cristina Iovu. 
 
The IWF said the 11 athletes have all been provisionally suspended. 
 
All the athletes who tested positive were found to have used the banned anabolic steroid Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday that 45 athletes had failed dope tests after their samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and London 2012 were reanalysed. 
 
The second wave of retests included 138 samples from London 2012, involving athletes from two sports and nine countries. The London 2012 retests produced 15 failures. 
 
(Reuters)

All the athletes who tested positive were found to have used a banned anabolic steroid

Eleven weightlifters, including six medallists, produced positive samples in the second wave of doping retests from the 2012 London Olympics, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said yesterday. Russia's five-times European champion Nataliya Zabolotnaya was among three silver medallists from the London Games to fail tests along with compatriots Alexandr Ivanov and Svetlana Tzarukaeva. Zabolotnaya finished second in the women’s -75kg event in London, repeating her silver-medal performance in Athens eight years earlier. Ivanov was world champion in 2010 and 2013 in the -94kg category, while Tzarukaeva won the world title in 2011 in the 63kg event. Other London medallists to fail tests included Iryna Kulesha of Belarus, Armenia’s Hripsime Khurshudyan and Moldova’s Cristina Iovu. The IWF said the 11 athletes have all been provisionally suspended. All the athletes who tested positive were found to have used the banned anabolic steroid Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday that 45 athletes had failed dope tests after their samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and London 2012 were reanalysed. The second wave of retests included 138 samples from London 2012, involving athletes from two sports and nine countries. The London 2012 retests produced 15 failures. (Reuters)

Eleven London 2012 weightlifters test positive for doping, temporarily suspended