Belgian skeleton racer Kim Meylemans was permitted to enter one of the Olympic villages early Thursday, a move that came hours after she tearfully turned to social media and detailed how upset she was about being in isolation over virus concerns.

Meylemans tested positive for COVID-19 upon her arrival at the Beijing Olympics, which meant she had to enter isolation and return several negative tests before being cleared to move into the Yanqing Olympic Village.

She thought that was happening Wednesday and boarded an ambulance for what she thought was a ride to that village. But the ambulance went to another facility, Meylemans said in an Instagram post that quickly captured attention and raised questions about how her mental health was being affected by the saga.

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Belgian Olympic officials and the International Olympic Committee intervened and Meylemans was brought to the Yanqing Village, where she will be in an isolated room and still needs seven days of testing before she can be released from that wing. That said, at least she's among other Olympians ? and she said she immediately felt safer.

Our main goal was to get Kim to the Olympic Village in Yanqing as quickly as possible,? Belgian Olympic delegation leader Olav Spahl said.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/winter-olympics-german-record-holder-claudia-pechstein-to-carry-flag-450103">Winter Olympics: German record holder Claudia Pechstein to carry flag</a>

We are therefore very pleased that this has now been successfully achieved. We understand that the COVID measures are necessary to safeguard the safety and health of participants in the Games, but we believe that the athlete should always be at the center of such an approach.

The IOC apparently agreed, saying it made immediate contact with the NOC of Belgium to ensure that appropriate support is offered to Meylemans after learning of her video and movement to another isolation facility Wednesday.

Relieved to hear that Kim Meylemans is now in the Olympic Village,&nbsp;IOC spokesman Christian Klaue tweeted. We are glad that all the efforts led to the successful resolution of this situation.? Meylemans was 14th in her debut Olympics at Pyeongchang in 2018, but is expected to be more of a contender at the Beijing Games. She has one medal from World Cup races this season, that being a bronze, and was no worse than sixth in five of the final six races on the circuit this season.

Official training for women's skeleton starts next week, with the competition Feb. 12. At one point Wednesday, Meylemans' plans to compete seemed in some question. By early Thursday, the outlook was considerably brighter. It seems like the video and the efforts of my Olympic committee have really paid off,&nbsp;Meylemans said.

Belgian skeleton racer Kim Meylemans was permitted to enter one of the Olympic villages early Thursday, a move that came hours after she tearfully turned to social media and detailed how upset she was about being in isolation over virus concerns.

Belgian skeleton racer Kim Meylemans was permitted to enter one of the Olympic villages early Thursday, a move that came hours after she tearfully turned to social media and detailed how upset she was about being in isolation over virus concerns. Meylemans tested positive for COVID-19 upon her arrival at the Beijing Olympics, which meant she had to enter isolation and return several negative tests before being cleared to move into the Yanqing Olympic Village. She thought that was happening Wednesday and boarded an ambulance for what she thought was a ride to that village. But the ambulance went to another facility, Meylemans said in an Instagram post that quickly captured attention and raised questions about how her mental health was being affected by the saga. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Meylemans (@kimmeylemans) × Belgian Olympic officials and the International Olympic Committee intervened and Meylemans was brought to the Yanqing Village, where she will be in an isolated room and still needs seven days of testing before she can be released from that wing. That said, at least she's among other Olympians ? and she said she immediately felt safer. Our main goal was to get Kim to the Olympic Village in Yanqing as quickly as possible,? Belgian Olympic delegation leader Olav Spahl said. Read Also | Winter Olympics: German record holder Claudia Pechstein to carry flag We are therefore very pleased that this has now been successfully achieved. We understand that the COVID measures are necessary to safeguard the safety and health of participants in the Games, but we believe that the athlete should always be at the center of such an approach. The IOC apparently agreed, saying it made immediate contact with the NOC of Belgium to ensure that appropriate support is offered to Meylemans after learning of her video and movement to another isolation facility Wednesday. Relieved to hear that Kim Meylemans is now in the Olympic Village, IOC spokesman Christian Klaue tweeted. We are glad that all the efforts led to the successful resolution of this situation.? Meylemans was 14th in her debut Olympics at Pyeongchang in 2018, but is expected to be more of a contender at the Beijing Games. She has one medal from World Cup races this season, that being a bronze, and was no worse than sixth in five of the final six races on the circuit this season. Official training for women's skeleton starts next week, with the competition Feb. 12. At one point Wednesday, Meylemans' plans to compete seemed in some question. By early Thursday, the outlook was considerably brighter. It seems like the video and the efforts of my Olympic committee have really paid off, Meylemans said.

Winter Olympics: Belgian skeleton racer's tearful video in isolation permits her release - WATCH

Local organisers need to tighten up the handling of health information after a hotel manager was told before the Norwegian team that two biathletes were possible close contacts of a COVID-19 case, Chef de Mission Tore Oevreboe said on Thursday.

Oevreboe told a news conference the team hotel was informed that Johannes Thingnes Boe and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold had sat near a person who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on their flight to China before he was.

"He (the hotel manager) is a decent guy, but he shouldn`t have had that information before us, it`s completely `Texas`," Oevreboe said, using a Norwegian expression meaning "Wild West" or a free-for-all.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/winter-olympics-curling-competition-britain-china-claim-victories-as-beijing-action-gets-under-way-449925">Winter Olympics, Curling competition: Britain, China claim victories as Beijing action gets under way</a>

"We got it a little later than we should, and that means we do not get the full and complete overview before we start with counter-measures," Oevreboe said.

"We cannot initiate measures based on rumours, which creates uncertainty. It`s not professional, and then we cannot do our job properly. We want answers as soon as possible, so that we can initiate measures. We think (this was) too late."

The Norwegian team suffered a number of positive tests among its cross-country skiers before departure for the Winter Games, where Norway is traditionally a superpower.

As potential close contacts, Thingnes Boe and Tandrevold are still allowed to train but must otherwise remain in their rooms, including during meals.

Local organisers need to tighten up the handling of health information after a hotel manager was told before the Norwegian team that two biathletes were possible close contacts of a COVID-19 case, Chef de Mission Tore Oevreboe said on Thursday.

Local organisers need to tighten up the handling of health information after a hotel manager was told before the Norwegian team that two biathletes were possible close contacts of a COVID-19 case, Chef de Mission Tore Oevreboe said on Thursday. Oevreboe told a news conference the team hotel was informed that Johannes Thingnes Boe and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold had sat near a person who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on their flight to China before he was. "He (the hotel manager) is a decent guy, but he shouldn`t have had that information before us, it`s completely `Texas`," Oevreboe said, using a Norwegian expression meaning "Wild West" or a free-for-all. Read Also | Winter Olympics, Curling competition: Britain, China claim victories as Beijing action gets under way "We got it a little later than we should, and that means we do not get the full and complete overview before we start with counter-measures," Oevreboe said. "We cannot initiate measures based on rumours, which creates uncertainty. It`s not professional, and then we cannot do our job properly. We want answers as soon as possible, so that we can initiate measures. We think (this was) too late." The Norwegian team suffered a number of positive tests among its cross-country skiers before departure for the Winter Games, where Norway is traditionally a superpower. As potential close contacts, Thingnes Boe and Tandrevold are still allowed to train but must otherwise remain in their rooms, including during meals.

Beijing Olympics 2022: COVID information leaks worry Norwegians

The highest daily tally of COVID cases has been recorded ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

55 new COVID-19 cases reported ahead of opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics

Citing a potential threat of "malicious" cyber activities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked the United States athletes to use burner phones (temporary phones) during Winter Olympics 2022 in China and leave their personal cell phones at home.&nbsp;

Olympic Games Beijing 2022, shadowed by controversies, is scheduled to be held between February 4 to February 20.&nbsp;

In a notice, the agency said, "The FBI urges all athletes to keep their personal cell phones at home and use a temporary phone while at the games."

"The National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are also advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at the Games," the notice added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-delegation-to-attend-beijing-olympics-ceremonies-as-required-449710">Taiwan delegation to attend Beijing Olympics ceremonies as 'required'</a>

FBI has warned that malicious cyber actors could use a broad range of cyber activities to disrupt the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.&nbsp;

Activities such as ransomware and denial of service attacks. The agency warned about potential malware and data theft. There's also a possibility of the installation of "tracking tools" on mobile devices.&nbsp;

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/CISAgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CISAgov</a> urges all travelers to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics to review the latest <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a> Private Industry Notification and apply the recommendations to avoid potential malicious cyber activity. <a href="https://t.co/yOAOfjSWLm">https://t.co/yOAOfjSWLm</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cybersecurity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cybersecurity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InfoSec?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InfoSec</a>
— US-CERT (@USCERT_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCERT_gov/status/1488579728906854401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The warning comes as some of the Western countries have accused China of 'egregious' human rights violations in the Xinjiang region against the Uyghur Muslims.&nbsp;

The US imposed diplomatic sanctions on China after accusing it of mass detention, torture, forced labour and genocide in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-journalists-in-china-say-they-face-serious-threats-449223">International journalists in China say they face serious threats</a>

After the United States announced a diplomatic boycott of the event, other countries like Australia, the UK and Canada also confirmed that they will not send government officials to the Games.&nbsp;

Also, the human rights activists have made claims that Beijing is silencing critics domestically ahead of the Winter Olympics and using arbitrary ways such as not letting activists leave their houses and putting them behind bars ahead of the Olympics.&nbsp;

The move aims to prevent any protests, criticism or condemnation of China related to human rights violations or others during the Beijing Winter Olympics.&nbsp;

Apart from the Xinjiang issue, the current coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country and the safety of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai also remained a hot topic for China.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Citing a potential threat of "malicious" cyber activities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked the United States athletes to use burner phones (temporary phones) during Winter Olympics 2022 in China and leave their personal cell phones at home.

Citing a potential threat of "malicious" cyber activities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked the United States athletes to use burner phones (temporary phones) during Winter Olympics 2022 in China and leave their personal cell phones at home. Olympic Games Beijing 2022, shadowed by controversies, is scheduled to be held between February 4 to February 20. In a notice, the agency said, "The FBI urges all athletes to keep their personal cell phones at home and use a temporary phone while at the games." "The National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are also advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at the Games," the notice added. ALSO READ | Taiwan delegation to attend Beijing Olympics ceremonies as 'required' FBI has warned that malicious cyber actors could use a broad range of cyber activities to disrupt the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Activities such as ransomware and denial of service attacks. The agency warned about potential malware and data theft. There's also a possibility of the installation of "tracking tools" on mobile devices. .@CISAgov urges all travelers to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics to review the latest @FBI Private Industry Notification and apply the recommendations to avoid potential malicious cyber activity. https://t.co/yOAOfjSWLm. #Cybersecurity #InfoSec — US-CERT (@USCERT_gov) February 1, 2022 × The warning comes as some of the Western countries have accused China of 'egregious' human rights violations in the Xinjiang region against the Uyghur Muslims. The US imposed diplomatic sanctions on China after accusing it of mass detention, torture, forced labour and genocide in Xinjiang. ALSO READ | International journalists in China say they face serious threats After the United States announced a diplomatic boycott of the event, other countries like Australia, the UK and Canada also confirmed that they will not send government officials to the Games. Also, the human rights activists have made claims that Beijing is silencing critics domestically ahead of the Winter Olympics and using arbitrary ways such as not letting activists leave their houses and putting them behind bars ahead of the Olympics. The move aims to prevent any protests, criticism or condemnation of China related to human rights violations or others during the Beijing Winter Olympics. Apart from the Xinjiang issue, the current coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country and the safety of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai also remained a hot topic for China. ×

FBI asks US athletes to use burner phones during Bejing Olympics 2022 citing 'malicious' cyber activities

Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies.&nbsp;

The about-turn comes as relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their lowest in decades, with China ramping up military and economic pressure against the self-ruled democratic island.&nbsp;

Days earlier, Taiwan's Sports Administration had said it would not be sending its delegation to either of the ceremonies, citing concerns around "pandemic prevention and flight schedules".&nbsp;

By Tuesday, the island's&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;committee -- which answers to Taiwan's sports governing body -- said there was a change of plans due to the Games' international governing body "requiring" attendance.&nbsp;

"(We've) received multiple notices by the IOC (International&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;Committee) recently requiring all delegations joining the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to cooperate and attend the opening and closing ceremonies," it said.&nbsp;

"Based on the&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;spirit of solidarity as well as long-term good interactions and mutual understanding between the two sides, the Chinese Taipei&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;Committee... has decided to adjust plans to send representatives" to both ceremonies.&nbsp;

The local committee's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981 compromise made with the IOC to allow Taiwan to compete on the international stage without presenting itself as a sovereign nation.

Authoritarian China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed.

Record numbers of Chinese jets have entered the island's air defence zone in the past four months.

Taiwan has seen a surge in these kinds of threats since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, when China cut off official communication with her government because she regards Taiwan as an already sovereign nation.

The last time Beijing hosted an Olympics in 2008, relations with Taiwan were much warmer and a group of 80 competitors visited the Summer Games.

This year, only four athletes will be competing in the Winter Games.

Unlike several Western nations, Taipei has not joined a US-led diplomatic boycott of the Games over Beijing's human rights record.

But no government representative will be at the ceremonies due to "precedent", Taiwan's Sports Administration said Tuesday in a statement

The authority said it "respects" the decision made by its Olympics committee to attend the ceremonies.&nbsp;

It also urged the IOC "to prevent the interference of any political factors to suppress and belittle (Taiwan's) status".&nbsp;

Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies.

Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies. The about-turn comes as relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their lowest in decades, with China ramping up military and economic pressure against the self-ruled democratic island. Days earlier, Taiwan's Sports Administration had said it would not be sending its delegation to either of the ceremonies, citing concerns around "pandemic prevention and flight schedules". By Tuesday, the island's Olympic committee -- which answers to Taiwan's sports governing body -- said there was a change of plans due to the Games' international governing body "requiring" attendance. "(We've) received multiple notices by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) recently requiring all delegations joining the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to cooperate and attend the opening and closing ceremonies," it said. "Based on the Olympic spirit of solidarity as well as long-term good interactions and mutual understanding between the two sides, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee... has decided to adjust plans to send representatives" to both ceremonies. The local committee's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981 compromise made with the IOC to allow Taiwan to compete on the international stage without presenting itself as a sovereign nation. Authoritarian China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed. Record numbers of Chinese jets have entered the island's air defence zone in the past four months. Taiwan has seen a surge in these kinds of threats since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, when China cut off official communication with her government because she regards Taiwan as an already sovereign nation. The last time Beijing hosted an Olympics in 2008, relations with Taiwan were much warmer and a group of 80 competitors visited the Summer Games. This year, only four athletes will be competing in the Winter Games. Unlike several Western nations, Taipei has not joined a US-led diplomatic boycott of the Games over Beijing's human rights record. But no government representative will be at the ceremonies due to "precedent", Taiwan's Sports Administration said Tuesday in a statement The authority said it "respects" the decision made by its Olympics committee to attend the ceremonies. It also urged the IOC "to prevent the interference of any political factors to suppress and belittle (Taiwan's) status".

Taiwan delegation to attend Beijing Olympics ceremonies as 'required'

Citing a potential threat of "malicious" cyber activities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked the athletes to use burner phones (temporary phones) during Winter Olympics 2022 in China and leave their personal cell phones at home.

FBI issues warning to Beijing winter Olympics athletes cites malicious cyber activities

The COVID-19 situation at the Beijing Winter Olympics is within the "expected controllable range", despite increasing positive cases being detected, a senior official at China`s Olympics Pandemic Prevention and Control Office said on Tuesday.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee has reported 200 COVID cases since Jan. 23 among airport arrivals and those in the Games "closed loop" bubble that separates all event personnel, including athletes, from the public.

"As more people are entering China the imported COVID-19 cases are increasing," said Huang Chun, deputy director general of the committee`s Pandemic Prevention and Control Office at a press briefing.

Huang said rising cases were also a result of more effective and accurate COVID detection techniques by customs. 
Games organisers reported a total of 24 new COVID cases among Games-related personnel on Jan. 31, of which 16 were athletes.

Many athletes have been shut out from the Games, which will run Feb. 4-20, after testing positive on arrival at the airport. While many more are put in isolation after testing COVID but are asymptomatic.

"Getting to the Olympics is never easy, and this time, as a new mom, it has been the most challenging," Elana Meyers Taylor, a three times Olympic medalist in bobsled, wrote on social media from her isolation hotel.

China credits the strict COVID control measures, including frequent nucleic acid testings, for helping prevent clustered cases inside the closed loop.

"(The COVID-19 situation) is generally within our expected controllable range. So the Games participants, including athletes, and Chinese public do not have to worry," said Huang.

He said Olympics organisers were not considering any major changes to COVID control policies at the Games.

The COVID-19 situation at the Beijing Winter Olympics is within the "expected controllable range", despite increasing positive cases being detected, a senior official at China`s Olympics Pandemic Prevention and Control Office said on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 situation at the Beijing Winter Olympics is within the "expected controllable range", despite increasing positive cases being detected, a senior official at China`s Olympics Pandemic Prevention and Control Office said on Tuesday. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee has reported 200 COVID cases since Jan. 23 among airport arrivals and those in the Games "closed loop" bubble that separates all event personnel, including athletes, from the public. "As more people are entering China the imported COVID-19 cases are increasing," said Huang Chun, deputy director general of the committee`s Pandemic Prevention and Control Office at a press briefing. Huang said rising cases were also a result of more effective and accurate COVID detection techniques by customs. Games organisers reported a total of 24 new COVID cases among Games-related personnel on Jan. 31, of which 16 were athletes. Many athletes have been shut out from the Games, which will run Feb. 4-20, after testing positive on arrival at the airport. While many more are put in isolation after testing COVID but are asymptomatic. "Getting to the Olympics is never easy, and this time, as a new mom, it has been the most challenging," Elana Meyers Taylor, a three times Olympic medalist in bobsled, wrote on social media from her isolation hotel. China credits the strict COVID control measures, including frequent nucleic acid testings, for helping prevent clustered cases inside the closed loop. "(The COVID-19 situation) is generally within our expected controllable range. So the Games participants, including athletes, and Chinese public do not have to worry," said Huang. He said Olympics organisers were not considering any major changes to COVID control policies at the Games.

Beijing Olympics organisers say growing COVID-19 cases are 'within controllable range'

Making India proud, 31-year-old Arif Khan has become the only Indian to qualify for winter Olympics 2022. Arif has participated in 127 international Skiing events across the world.

31-year-old Kashmiri man becomes only Indian to qualify for winter Olympics 2022

As China prepares to host the Winter Olympics next month, China's state-run Global Times quoting the Chinese defence ministry reported that PLA "is ready to deal with any US military provocations" during the games.

The United States had recently sent its warship USS Benfold to the South China Sea angering China. China had said it had sent its forces to "track" and "monitor" the US destroyer.

China claims the South China Sea area as its own despite similar competing claims from Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

China has also rejected the international court's decision that it has no historical rights over the islands in the South China Sea.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nanning-how-chinas-new-warship-with-anti-stealth-radar-is-set-to-change-balance-in-south-china-sea-392163">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Nanning: China's new warship with anti-stealth radar in South China Sea</a>

Reports say China recently conducted day-and-night flight exercises in Yongxing Island in the South China Sea as warplanes launched mock attacks during the day with the Chinese navy's J-11B fighter jets also taking part.

The US and its Western allies have conducted a number of "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea as USS Benfold sailed for the first time through the contested waters this year.

In a research paper earlier, the State Department had said China has "no basis" over the South China Sea even as President Xi's regime rejected the report.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/aircraft-carrier-killer-why-us-china-tested-missiles-on-same-day-amid-tension-at-south-china-sea-318653">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Why US, China tested missiles on same day amid tension at South China Sea</a>

"The overall effect of these maritime claims is that the PRC unlawfully claims sovereignty or some form of exclusive jurisdiction over most of the South China Sea," the paper said.

Amid tensions in the area, China has continued to build military installations in the area worrying China's neighbours.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As China prepares to host the Winter Olympics next month, China's state-run Global Times quoting the Chinese defence ministry reported that PLA "is ready to deal with any US military provocations" during the games.

As China prepares to host the Winter Olympics next month, China's state-run Global Times quoting the Chinese defence ministry reported that PLA "is ready to deal with any US military provocations" during the games. The United States had recently sent its warship USS Benfold to the South China Sea angering China. China had said it had sent its forces to "track" and "monitor" the US destroyer. China claims the South China Sea area as its own despite similar competing claims from Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. China has also rejected the international court's decision that it has no historical rights over the islands in the South China Sea. Also Read in Pics: Nanning: China's new warship with anti-stealth radar in South China Sea Reports say China recently conducted day-and-night flight exercises in Yongxing Island in the South China Sea as warplanes launched mock attacks during the day with the Chinese navy's J-11B fighter jets also taking part. The US and its Western allies have conducted a number of "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea as USS Benfold sailed for the first time through the contested waters this year. In a research paper earlier, the State Department had said China has "no basis" over the South China Sea even as President Xi's regime rejected the report. Also Read in Pics: Why US, China tested missiles on same day amid tension at South China Sea "The overall effect of these maritime claims is that the PRC unlawfully claims sovereignty or some form of exclusive jurisdiction over most of the South China Sea," the paper said. Amid tensions in the area, China has continued to build military installations in the area worrying China's neighbours. (With inputs from Agencies)

'US provocations': Ahead of Winter Olympics, PLA conducts drills in South China Sea

Beijing has said that the behavior of athletes who violate the Olympic spirit or the Chinese rules could be subject to punishment.

Beijing winter Olympics: Behavior of athletes could be subject to punishment

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month`s Winter Games in Beijing.

Many NOCs said they will provide their athletes and staff with temporary devices to avert security risks and combat any surveillance during the Games taking place from Feb. 4-20 in China.

"It should be assumed that every text, email, online visit, and application access can be monitored or compromised," the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in an advisory.

It suggested using rental or disposable laptops and phones while in Beijing or wiping all data from personal devices before and after travelling there. It also recommended that members install virtual private networks (VPNs) on devices before leaving the States.

Despite safeguards in place to protect their systems and data, there should be "no expectation of data security or privacy while operating in China," the USOPC added.

Beijing Olympic officials could not immediately be reached for comment. 
The Canadian Olympic Committee said it has advised members to consider leaving personal devices at home and be extra diligent since the Games presented "a unique opportunity for cybercrime".

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The Swiss and Swedish committees will also provide new devices to their delegations and have briefed them on measures they can take against cybersecurity.

"We also provide information to athletes about the situation in China in cooperation with the organisation Civil Rights Defenders, so that the athletes can make their own decision about how to use personal equipment during the Olympics," the Swedish committee said.

The British Olympic Association said it had given athletes and staff practical advice with regards to taking their personal devices to Beijing and would provide temporary devices to those who wanted them.

Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported last week that the country`s Olympic committee will equip its team members with unused devices. Some other countries are less concerned about cybersecurity matters in Beijing, however.

The NOCs of Slovenia and Slovakia said they will not be offering temporary devices to team members, while Croatia`s NOC said it will let its delegation take their own devices and Serbia said it was planning no additional cybersecurity measures.

Separately, researchers have said the Beijing Organising Committee`s MY2022 app, which all attendees must use to monitor their health, contains security flaws that make it vulnerable to privacy breaches.

Yu Hong, head of the IOC`s technology department, said such issues were natural when developing this kind of app, which her department was constantly updating in order to tackle them.

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month`s Winter Games in Beijing.

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month`s Winter Games in Beijing. Many NOCs said they will provide their athletes and staff with temporary devices to avert security risks and combat any surveillance during the Games taking place from Feb. 4-20 in China. "It should be assumed that every text, email, online visit, and application access can be monitored or compromised," the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in an advisory. It suggested using rental or disposable laptops and phones while in Beijing or wiping all data from personal devices before and after travelling there. It also recommended that members install virtual private networks (VPNs) on devices before leaving the States. Despite safeguards in place to protect their systems and data, there should be "no expectation of data security or privacy while operating in China," the USOPC added. Beijing Olympic officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The Canadian Olympic Committee said it has advised members to consider leaving personal devices at home and be extra diligent since the Games presented "a unique opportunity for cybercrime". Read Also | COVID-19 prohibits public sale of Beijing Olympics tickets The Swiss and Swedish committees will also provide new devices to their delegations and have briefed them on measures they can take against cybersecurity. "We also provide information to athletes about the situation in China in cooperation with the organisation Civil Rights Defenders, so that the athletes can make their own decision about how to use personal equipment during the Olympics," the Swedish committee said. The British Olympic Association said it had given athletes and staff practical advice with regards to taking their personal devices to Beijing and would provide temporary devices to those who wanted them. Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported last week that the country`s Olympic committee will equip its team members with unused devices. Some other countries are less concerned about cybersecurity matters in Beijing, however. The NOCs of Slovenia and Slovakia said they will not be offering temporary devices to team members, while Croatia`s NOC said it will let its delegation take their own devices and Serbia said it was planning no additional cybersecurity measures. Separately, researchers have said the Beijing Organising Committee`s MY2022 app, which all attendees must use to monitor their health, contains security flaws that make it vulnerable to privacy breaches. Yu Hong, head of the IOC`s technology department, said such issues were natural when developing this kind of app, which her department was constantly updating in order to tackle them.

National Olympic Committees advise athletes to carry burner phones in Beijing Olympics

The Winter Olympics begin in less than 3 weeks. A group of activists is giving the Olympians some advice. They say athletes should stay silent on the issue of human rights in Beijing. IOC might not be able to protect them. Palki Sharma tells you why.

Gravitas: Winter Olympics: Athletes could pay a heavy price for speaking out

China on Monday recorded Covid cases that reached highest levels since March 2020. That this is happening mere three weeks before Winter Olympics has added to worry of the authorities.

With growing fears about the highly-transmissible Omicron strain challenging China's stringent approach to virus control, a senior health official told residents of the capital to "avoid buying goods from overseas" after saying a local case could have been infected by international post.

Coronavirus first emerged in China in 2019. The country has stuck to a strict policy of targeting zero Covid cases even as the rest of the world has reopened.

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But its approach has come under sustained pressure in recent weeks with multiple clusters in key cities just as the Games are about to get underway in Beijing.

On Monday there were 223 more cases reported, including another 80 in the virus-hit port city of Tianjin, and nine more -- including cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant -- in the southern manufacturing hub of Guangdong.

Athletes and officials have already started to land in the capital ahead of the Games, immediately entering a tightly controlled bubble separating them from the rest of the population.

But after a local Omicron case was detected in Beijing over the weekend, authorities also tightened regulations for arrivals from elsewhere in China.

The city is now demanding a negative test before travel and a follow-up test after entering, with residents urged not to leave the capital for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

Some tourist sites have also been closed.

(With inputs from agencies)

China on Monday recorded Covid cases that reached highest levels since March 2020. That this is happening mere three weeks before Winter Olympics has added to worry of the authorities.

China on Monday recorded Covid cases that reached highest levels since March 2020. That this is happening mere three weeks before Winter Olympics has added to worry of the authorities. With growing fears about the highly-transmissible Omicron strain challenging China's stringent approach to virus control, a senior health official told residents of the capital to "avoid buying goods from overseas" after saying a local case could have been infected by international post. Coronavirus first emerged in China in 2019. The country has stuck to a strict policy of targeting zero Covid cases even as the rest of the world has reopened. Also Read | China's population grows but birth rate drops to record low in 2021 But its approach has come under sustained pressure in recent weeks with multiple clusters in key cities just as the Games are about to get underway in Beijing. On Monday there were 223 more cases reported, including another 80 in the virus-hit port city of Tianjin, and nine more -- including cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant -- in the southern manufacturing hub of Guangdong. Athletes and officials have already started to land in the capital ahead of the Games, immediately entering a tightly controlled bubble separating them from the rest of the population. But after a local Omicron case was detected in Beijing over the weekend, authorities also tightened regulations for arrivals from elsewhere in China. The city is now demanding a negative test before travel and a follow-up test after entering, with residents urged not to leave the capital for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Some tourist sites have also been closed. (With inputs from agencies)

China records two-year high in Covid cases weeks before Winter Olympics

With barely three weeks to go for the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese capital has detected its first case of omicron variant. China is already plagued by multiple covid-19 outbreaks and authorities are testing the other occupants of the patient's residential compound and office building. Access has been restricted to 17 locations linked to infected person.

First case of Omicron detected in Beijing ahead of Winter Olympics

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to "targeted" groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19.

Organisers had said in September that there would not be any international spectators at the Games, under COVID-19 prevention policies that have all but shut China`s borders to international travellers.

It cited the "severe and complex" COVID-19 situation and the need to protect the safety of Olympics personnel and spectators in Monday`s announcement.

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Local spectators who receive tickets must observe strict COVID-19 prevention measures before, during and after attending Olympic events, the committee said. It did not give further details, or further specify how tickets would be distributed.

China, which has largely managed to curb local COVID-19 infections, is scrambling to prevent the spread of scattered outbreaks of the highly infections Omicron variant just as the busy Lunar New Year travel period begins.

The Olympics, to be held in the Chinese capital and neighbouring Hebei province, will take place in a "closed loop" that will keep athletes and other Games personnel separated from the general Chinese public. Most participants will arrive on special charter planes.

Last month, North America`s National Hockey League said its players would not participate in the Olympic tournament in Beijing due to COVID-19 disruptions of the league schedule.

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to "targeted" groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19.

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to "targeted" groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19. Organisers had said in September that there would not be any international spectators at the Games, under COVID-19 prevention policies that have all but shut China`s borders to international travellers. It cited the "severe and complex" COVID-19 situation and the need to protect the safety of Olympics personnel and spectators in Monday`s announcement. Read Also | 'You are our champion': Deported Novak Djokovic welcomed back to Serbia Local spectators who receive tickets must observe strict COVID-19 prevention measures before, during and after attending Olympic events, the committee said. It did not give further details, or further specify how tickets would be distributed. China, which has largely managed to curb local COVID-19 infections, is scrambling to prevent the spread of scattered outbreaks of the highly infections Omicron variant just as the busy Lunar New Year travel period begins. The Olympics, to be held in the Chinese capital and neighbouring Hebei province, will take place in a "closed loop" that will keep athletes and other Games personnel separated from the general Chinese public. Most participants will arrive on special charter planes. Last month, North America`s National Hockey League said its players would not participate in the Olympic tournament in Beijing due to COVID-19 disruptions of the league schedule.

COVID-19 prohibits public sale of Beijing Olympics tickets

Construction and property sales have slumped. Small businesses have shut because of rising costs and weak sales. Debt-laden local governments are cutting the pay of civil servants.

China’s economy slowed markedly in the final months of last year as government measures to limit real estate speculation hurt other sectors as well. Lockdowns and travel restrictions to contain the coronavirus also dented consumer spending. Stringent regulations on everything from internet businesses to after-school tutoring companies have set off a wave of layoffs.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics said Monday that economic output from October through December was only 4% higher than during the same period a year earlier. That represented a further deceleration from the 4.9% growth in the third quarter, July through September.

The world’s demand for consumer electronics, furniture and other home comforts during the pandemic has produced record-setting exports for China, preventing its growth from stalling. Over all of last year, China’s economic output was 8.1% higher than in 2020, the government said. But much of the growth was in the first half of last year.

The snapshot of China’s economy, the main locomotive of global growth in the past few years, adds to expectations that the broader world economic outlook is beginning to dim. Making matters worse, the omicron variant of the coronavirus is now starting to spread in China, leading to more restrictions around the country and raising fears of renewed disruption of supply chains.

The slowing economy poses a quandary for China’s leaders. The measures they have imposed to address income inequality and rein in companies are part of a long-term plan to protect the economy and national security. But officials are wary of causing short-term economic instability, particularly in a year of unusual political importance.

Next month, China hosts the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which will focus an international spotlight on the country’s performance. In the fall, Xi Jinping, China’s leader, is expected to claim a third five-year term at a Communist Party congress.

With growth in his country slowing, demand slackening and debt still at near-record levels, Xi could face some of the biggest economic challenges since Deng Xiaoping began lifting the country out of its Maoist straitjacket four decades ago.

“I’m afraid that the operation and development of China’s economy in the next several years may be relatively difficult,” Li Daokui, a prominent economist and Chinese government adviser, said in a speech late last month. “Looking at the five years as a whole, it may be the most difficult period since our reform and opening up 40 years ago.”

China also faces the problem of rapid aging, which could create an even greater burden on China’s economy and its labor force. The National Bureau of Statistics said Monday that China’s birthrate fell sharply last year and is now barely higher than the death rate.

Private Sector Struggles

As costs for many raw materials have risen and the pandemic has prompted some consumers to stay home, millions of private businesses have crumbled, most of them small and family owned.

That is a big concern because private companies are the backbone of the Chinese economy, accounting for three-fifths of output and four-fifths of urban employment.

Kang Shiqing invested much of his savings nearly three years ago to open a women’s clothing store in Nanping, a river town in southeastern China’s Fujian province. But when the pandemic hit a year later, the number of customers dropped drastically and never recovered.

As in many countries, there has been a broad shift in China toward online shopping, which can undercut stores by using less labor and operating from inexpensive warehouses. Kang was stuck paying high rent for his store despite the pandemic. He finally closed it in June.

“We can hardly survive,” he said.

Another persistent difficulty for small businesses in China is the high cost of borrowing, often at double-digit interest rates from private lenders.

Chinese leaders are aware of the challenges private companies face. Premier Li Keqiang has promised further cuts in taxes and fees to help the country’s many struggling small businesses.

On Monday, China’s central bank made a small move to reduce interest rates, which could help reduce slightly the interest costs of the country’s heavily indebted real estate developers. The central bank pushed down by about a tenth of a percentage point its interest rate bench marks for one-week and one-year lending.

Construction Stalls

The building and fitting out of new homes has represented one-quarter of China’s economy. Heavy lending and widespread speculation have helped China erect the equivalent of 140 square feet of new housing for every urban resident in the past two decades.

This autumn, the sector faltered. The government wants to limit speculation and deflate a bubble that had made new homes unaffordable for young families.

China Evergrande Group is only the largest and most visible of a lengthening list of real estate developers in China that have run into severe financial difficulty lately. Kaisa Group, China Aoyuan Property Group and Fantasia are among other developers that have struggled to make payments as bond investors become more wary of lending money to China’s real estate sector.

As real estate companies try to conserve cash, they are starting fewer construction projects. And that has been a big problem for the economy. The price of steel reinforcing bars for the concrete in apartment towers, for example, dropped by one-quarter in October and November before stabilizing at a much lower level in December.

The decline in home prices in smaller cities has hurt the value of people’s assets, which in turn made them less willing to spend. Even in Shanghai and Beijing, apartment prices are no longer surging.

There have been faint hints of renewed government support for the real estate sector in recent weeks, but no sign of a return to lavish lending by state-controlled banks.

The financial distress of Evergrande “is a signal that money will be pushed from real estate to the stock market,” said Hu Jinghui, an economist who is the former chair of the China Alliance of Real Estate Agencies, a national trade group. “The policies can be loosened, but there can be no return to the past.”

Local Governments Feel the Pinch

The slowdown in the housing market has also hurt local governments, which rely on land sales as a key source of revenue.

The International Monetary Fund estimates that government land sales each year have been raising money equal to 7% of the country’s annual economic output. But in recent months, developers have curtailed land purchases.

Starved of revenue, some local governments have halted hiring and cut bonuses and benefits for civil servants, prompting widespread complaints on social media.

In Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, a civil servant’s complaint of a 25% cut in her pay spread quickly on the internet. The municipal government did not respond to a fax requesting comment. In northern Heilongjiang province, the city of Hegang announced that it would not hire any more “low-level” workers. City officials deleted the announcement from the government’s website after it drew public attention.

Some governments have also raised fees on businesses to try to make up for the shortfall.

Bazhou, a city in Hebei province, collected 11 times as much money in fines on small businesses from October through December as it did in the first nine months of last year. Beijing criticized the city for undermining a national effort to reduce the cost of doing business.

Pockets of Strength in Exports

Strong overseas demand for China’s exports, particularly consumer goods, spurred a national wave of new factory investments, up 13.5% last year from 2020.

Some areas of consumer spending have been fairly robust, notably the luxury sector, with sports cars and jewelry selling well. Retail sales rebounded 12.5% last year compared to pandemic-depressed levels in 2020. But retail sales fell in December compared to November, as coronavirus restrictions kept some shoppers at home.

Some areas of consumer spending have been fairly robust, notably the luxury sector, with sports cars and jewelry selling well.

Few anticipate that the government will allow a severe economic downturn this year, before the Communist Party congress. Economists expect the government to soften its restrictions on lending and step up government spending.

“The first half of the year will be challenging,” said Zhu Ning, deputy dean of the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance. “But then the second half will see a rebound.”

Construction and property sales have slumped. Small businesses have shut because of rising costs and weak sales. Debt-laden local governments are cutting the pay of civil servants.

Construction and property sales have slumped. Small businesses have shut because of rising costs and weak sales. Debt-laden local governments are cutting the pay of civil servants. China’s economy slowed markedly in the final months of last year as government measures to limit real estate speculation hurt other sectors as well. Lockdowns and travel restrictions to contain the coronavirus also dented consumer spending. Stringent regulations on everything from internet businesses to after-school tutoring companies have set off a wave of layoffs. China’s National Bureau of Statistics said Monday that economic output from October through December was only 4% higher than during the same period a year earlier. That represented a further deceleration from the 4.9% growth in the third quarter, July through September. The world’s demand for consumer electronics, furniture and other home comforts during the pandemic has produced record-setting exports for China, preventing its growth from stalling. Over all of last year, China’s economic output was 8.1% higher than in 2020, the government said. But much of the growth was in the first half of last year. The snapshot of China’s economy, the main locomotive of global growth in the past few years, adds to expectations that the broader world economic outlook is beginning to dim. Making matters worse, the omicron variant of the coronavirus is now starting to spread in China, leading to more restrictions around the country and raising fears of renewed disruption of supply chains. The slowing economy poses a quandary for China’s leaders. The measures they have imposed to address income inequality and rein in companies are part of a long-term plan to protect the economy and national security. But officials are wary of causing short-term economic instability, particularly in a year of unusual political importance. Next month, China hosts the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which will focus an international spotlight on the country’s performance. In the fall, Xi Jinping, China’s leader, is expected to claim a third five-year term at a Communist Party congress. With growth in his country slowing, demand slackening and debt still at near-record levels, Xi could face some of the biggest economic challenges since Deng Xiaoping began lifting the country out of its Maoist straitjacket four decades ago. “I’m afraid that the operation and development of China’s economy in the next several years may be relatively difficult,” Li Daokui, a prominent economist and Chinese government adviser, said in a speech late last month. “Looking at the five years as a whole, it may be the most difficult period since our reform and opening up 40 years ago.” China also faces the problem of rapid aging, which could create an even greater burden on China’s economy and its labor force. The National Bureau of Statistics said Monday that China’s birthrate fell sharply last year and is now barely higher than the death rate. Private Sector Struggles As costs for many raw materials have risen and the pandemic has prompted some consumers to stay home, millions of private businesses have crumbled, most of them small and family owned. That is a big concern because private companies are the backbone of the Chinese economy, accounting for three-fifths of output and four-fifths of urban employment. Kang Shiqing invested much of his savings nearly three years ago to open a women’s clothing store in Nanping, a river town in southeastern China’s Fujian province. But when the pandemic hit a year later, the number of customers dropped drastically and never recovered. As in many countries, there has been a broad shift in China toward online shopping, which can undercut stores by using less labor and operating from inexpensive warehouses. Kang was stuck paying high rent for his store despite the pandemic. He finally closed it in June. “We can hardly survive,” he said. Another persistent difficulty for small businesses in China is the high cost of borrowing, often at double-digit interest rates from private lenders. Chinese leaders are aware of the challenges private companies face. Premier Li Keqiang has promised further cuts in taxes and fees to help the country’s many struggling small businesses. On Monday, China’s central bank made a small move to reduce interest rates, which could help reduce slightly the interest costs of the country’s heavily indebted real estate developers. The central bank pushed down by about a tenth of a percentage point its interest rate bench marks for one-week and one-year lending. Construction Stalls The building and fitting out of new homes has represented one-quarter of China’s economy. Heavy lending and widespread speculation have helped China erect the equivalent of 140 square feet of new housing for every urban resident in the past two decades. This autumn, the sector faltered. The government wants to limit speculation and deflate a bubble that had made new homes unaffordable for young families. China Evergrande Group is only the largest and most visible of a lengthening list of real estate developers in China that have run into severe financial difficulty lately. Kaisa Group, China Aoyuan Property Group and Fantasia are among other developers that have struggled to make payments as bond investors become more wary of lending money to China’s real estate sector. As real estate companies try to conserve cash, they are starting fewer construction projects. And that has been a big problem for the economy. The price of steel reinforcing bars for the concrete in apartment towers, for example, dropped by one-quarter in October and November before stabilizing at a much lower level in December. The decline in home prices in smaller cities has hurt the value of people’s assets, which in turn made them less willing to spend. Even in Shanghai and Beijing, apartment prices are no longer surging. There have been faint hints of renewed government support for the real estate sector in recent weeks, but no sign of a return to lavish lending by state-controlled banks. The financial distress of Evergrande “is a signal that money will be pushed from real estate to the stock market,” said Hu Jinghui, an economist who is the former chair of the China Alliance of Real Estate Agencies, a national trade group. “The policies can be loosened, but there can be no return to the past.” Local Governments Feel the Pinch The slowdown in the housing market has also hurt local governments, which rely on land sales as a key source of revenue. The International Monetary Fund estimates that government land sales each year have been raising money equal to 7% of the country’s annual economic output. But in recent months, developers have curtailed land purchases. Starved of revenue, some local governments have halted hiring and cut bonuses and benefits for civil servants, prompting widespread complaints on social media. In Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, a civil servant’s complaint of a 25% cut in her pay spread quickly on the internet. The municipal government did not respond to a fax requesting comment. In northern Heilongjiang province, the city of Hegang announced that it would not hire any more “low-level” workers. City officials deleted the announcement from the government’s website after it drew public attention. Some governments have also raised fees on businesses to try to make up for the shortfall. Bazhou, a city in Hebei province, collected 11 times as much money in fines on small businesses from October through December as it did in the first nine months of last year. Beijing criticized the city for undermining a national effort to reduce the cost of doing business. Pockets of Strength in Exports Strong overseas demand for China’s exports, particularly consumer goods, spurred a national wave of new factory investments, up 13.5% last year from 2020. Some areas of consumer spending have been fairly robust, notably the luxury sector, with sports cars and jewelry selling well. Retail sales rebounded 12.5% last year compared to pandemic-depressed levels in 2020. But retail sales fell in December compared to November, as coronavirus restrictions kept some shoppers at home. Some areas of consumer spending have been fairly robust, notably the luxury sector, with sports cars and jewelry selling well. Few anticipate that the government will allow a severe economic downturn this year, before the Communist Party congress. Economists expect the government to soften its restrictions on lending and step up government spending. “The first half of the year will be challenging,” said Zhu Ning, deputy dean of the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance. “But then the second half will see a rebound.”

China's economy slowed late last year on real estate troubles

How will the Beijing winter Olympics pan out? How many spectators will be allowed in? Watch this report.

Beijing sets up Olympic bubble featuring robot chefs

In a significant development in Pakistan-Russia ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics that will take place in Beijing next month.&nbsp;

The Olympics are a showstopper event for Chinese President Xi Jinping and will take place from February 4 to February 20.

The development comes as over the years Pakistan and Russia have increased engagement. Last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had visited Islamabad from New Delhi, something that is not the norm. The last time Lavrov visited Pakistan was in 2012.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan may become one of the first foreign leaders to visit China after the start of the pandemic when he visits early next month, he has been invited by Chinese President Xi for the visit.&nbsp;

Khalid Mansoor, Special Assistant to Pakistan's Prime Minister on CPEC, said while unveiling a report on China-Pakistan economic cooperation that Mr Khan wanted to "remove all bottlenecks for investors" ahead of the visit early next month.

Apart from bilateral meetings, Imran Khan will also be holding meetings with other dignitaries present at the event including holding a key bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin, sources said.&nbsp;

It is pertinent to note that Imran Khan and Vladimir Putin were to meet at the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Dushanbe in September 2021, the meet could not take place in person because the Russian President pulled out of the summit last minute following a COVID-19 case outbreak in his inner circle, the two dignitaries back then had spoken twice in 13 days.

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Afghanistan has been one of the key areas of engagement between the two sides. Pakistan and Russia are part of the troika plus meet on Afghanistan, along with US and China.

Defence engagement has also increased, though unlikely to be a part when it comes to Russia-India. Pakistani and Russian military exercises Druzhba has been taking place regularly. Such exercises happened even in 2019, months after the Pulwama terror attack. The first of these exercises happened in 2016 in Pakistan, just days Uri attack.

It will be an important occasion for China, even as it faces the boycott of the Winter Olympics by the West. Both Russia, Pakistan are close allies of the country. China, Pakistan call each other "all weather allies" while recently Russian President in his year-end presser called ties with China's Xi as "relation of trust".

In a significant development in Pakistan-Russia ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics that will take place in Beijing next month.

In a significant development in Pakistan-Russia ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics that will take place in Beijing next month. The Olympics are a showstopper event for Chinese President Xi Jinping and will take place from February 4 to February 20. The development comes as over the years Pakistan and Russia have increased engagement. Last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had visited Islamabad from New Delhi, something that is not the norm. The last time Lavrov visited Pakistan was in 2012. ALSO READ | Ukraine crisis: Russia says preliminary talks with US in Geneva 'complex but businesslike' Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan may become one of the first foreign leaders to visit China after the start of the pandemic when he visits early next month, he has been invited by Chinese President Xi for the visit. Khalid Mansoor, Special Assistant to Pakistan's Prime Minister on CPEC, said while unveiling a report on China-Pakistan economic cooperation that Mr Khan wanted to "remove all bottlenecks for investors" ahead of the visit early next month. Apart from bilateral meetings, Imran Khan will also be holding meetings with other dignitaries present at the event including holding a key bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin, sources said. It is pertinent to note that Imran Khan and Vladimir Putin were to meet at the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Dushanbe in September 2021, the meet could not take place in person because the Russian President pulled out of the summit last minute following a COVID-19 case outbreak in his inner circle, the two dignitaries back then had spoken twice in 13 days. ALSO READ | Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken warns Russia of confrontation Afghanistan has been one of the key areas of engagement between the two sides. Pakistan and Russia are part of the troika plus meet on Afghanistan, along with US and China. Defence engagement has also increased, though unlikely to be a part when it comes to Russia-India. Pakistani and Russian military exercises Druzhba has been taking place regularly. Such exercises happened even in 2019, months after the Pulwama terror attack. The first of these exercises happened in 2016 in Pakistan, just days Uri attack. It will be an important occasion for China, even as it faces the boycott of the Winter Olympics by the West. Both Russia, Pakistan are close allies of the country. China, Pakistan call each other "all weather allies" while recently Russian President in his year-end presser called ties with China's Xi as "relation of trust".

Imran Khan, Vladimir Putin likely to meet in China on the sidelines of Winter Olympics

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.

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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". 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.

China slams Japan for not sending govt officials to Beijing Olympics

China slams Japan's decision on not sending govt officials to Beijing 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

Amid the ongoing diplomatic bandwagon, Japan says it won't send a government delegation to China for Beijing Winter Olympics

Japan snubs Beijing Winter Olympic as it won't send a government delegation to China

Japan says it won't send a government delegation to China for Beijing Winter Olympics

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics by the United States and its allies a mistake driven by a desire to restrain China's development.

Washington will not prevent China's emergence as a global competitor by dragging politics into sports, Putin said in reply to a question at his annual news conference.

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Canada and the United Kingdom have said they will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the games, a move which Beijing has condemned as a betrayal of the Olympic principles. 
&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics by the United States and its allies a mistake driven by a desire to restrain China's development.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics by the United States and its allies a mistake driven by a desire to restrain China's development. Washington will not prevent China's emergence as a global competitor by dragging politics into sports, Putin said in reply to a question at his annual news conference. ALSO READ: NHL says won't send players for Beijing Games after regular season disrupted due to surge in COVID-19 cases Canada and the United Kingdom have said they will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the games, a move which Beijing has condemned as a betrayal of the Olympic principles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Western diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics is a mistake

China expects to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics "smoothly" and on schedule, despite challenges posed by the emergence of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

China: Winter Olympics will proceed as planned despite Omicron challenge

China is struggling with fulfilling its claim of making the country COVID free for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, scheduled to be held in February next year.

The Chinese authorities are willing and doing, everything that is required to keep the caseload to remain at zero. Despite strict protocols, some regions in China are reporting fresh cases daily.

China has implemented zero local transmissions, an official policy, at the cost of people's freedom and violation of rights.

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Citing a CNN report, Hong Kong Post reported that despite the strict monitoring, "cases have been detected over the past week in the country's largest cities, from Beijing and Shanghai to Guangzhou".

However, China claims that Beijing is isolated from the rest of the country during the period of the Winter Games to ensure that the virus does not enter the capital city.

At the beginning of the week, at least 61 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the Chinese mainland, as per local media.

The Winter Games are already controversial because several countries led by the United States announced a diplomatic boycott.

Canada is the latest country to join the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, first initiated by the United States. The two other countries are Australia and the United Kingdom.

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Human rights activists have raised their voices against China`s detention of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province and crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

In March, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials and one entity for alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to Sputnik.&nbsp;

China is struggling with fulfilling its claim of making the country COVID free for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, scheduled to be held in February next year.

China is struggling with fulfilling its claim of making the country COVID free for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, scheduled to be held in February next year. The Chinese authorities are willing and doing, everything that is required to keep the caseload to remain at zero. Despite strict protocols, some regions in China are reporting fresh cases daily. China has implemented zero local transmissions, an official policy, at the cost of people's freedom and violation of rights. ALSO READ: Tibetan students lock themselves to Olympic rings to protest Beijing Winter Olympics Citing a CNN report, Hong Kong Post reported that despite the strict monitoring, "cases have been detected over the past week in the country's largest cities, from Beijing and Shanghai to Guangzhou". However, China claims that Beijing is isolated from the rest of the country during the period of the Winter Games to ensure that the virus does not enter the capital city. At the beginning of the week, at least 61 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the Chinese mainland, as per local media. The Winter Games are already controversial because several countries led by the United States announced a diplomatic boycott. Canada is the latest country to join the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, first initiated by the United States. The two other countries are Australia and the United Kingdom. ALSO READ: Senior Japanese officials to skip Beijing Winter Olympics in a diplomatic boycott - Report Human rights activists have raised their voices against China`s detention of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province and crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. In March, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials and one entity for alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to Sputnik.

China worried about COVID-19 spoiling Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Two Tibetan students chained themselves to the Olympic rings outside the Swiss headquarters of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday to call for an international boycott of next year's winter games.

The pair were part of the latest protest against the 2022 Olympic Games over Beijing's abuse of human rights and its treatment of minorities.

The United States will not send government officials to the 2022 Winter Olympics due to China's human rights "atrocities," it said earlier this month.

Members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe (TYAE) and Students for a Free Tibet held a sit-in at the IOC building in Lausanne as officials gathered for a meeting.

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The activists demanded countries withdraw from the event they have called the "Genocide Games", which they say are being used to burnish China's reputation.

China seized control of Tibet after its troops entered the region in 1950 in what it calls a "peaceful liberation". Tibet has since become one of the most restricted areas in the country. Critics, led by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, say Beijing's rule amounts to "cultural genocide".

Two activists unfurled a banner over the entry to the building reading, "No Beijing 2022," while five students got inside the building and held a sit-in protest.

"Despite mounting international criticism of the IOC and China, the Chinese regime`s human rights abuses in Tibet, East Turkestan, and Hong Kong continue unabated," said Tenzing Dhokhar, Campaigns Director of TYAE, one of the protesters.

"By collaborating with China, the IOC is making itself an accomplice of the Chinese Communist Party`s crimes, which will be sports-washed by the Beijing Olympics."

Police started removing the campaigners after three hours of protests. Organisers and a Reuters eyewitness described the protest as peaceful, but the IOC said one of its security guards was injured.

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"The IOC always listens to all concerns that are directly related to the Olympic Games. We have engaged multiple times with peaceful protesters and explained our position, but we will not engage with violent protesters who used force to enter the IOC building and injured a security guard by doing so," the IOC said in a statement.

The organisation has previously said it is a force for good and cannot have any influence over sovereign states.

Chinese authorities have been accused of facilitating forced labour by detaining around a million Uyghurs and other primarily Muslim minorities in camps since 2016.

China denies wrongdoing, saying it has set up vocational training centres to combat extremism.

Two Tibetan students chained themselves to the Olympic rings outside the Swiss headquarters of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday to call for an international boycott of next year's winter games.

Two Tibetan students chained themselves to the Olympic rings outside the Swiss headquarters of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday to call for an international boycott of next year's winter games. The pair were part of the latest protest against the 2022 Olympic Games over Beijing's abuse of human rights and its treatment of minorities. The United States will not send government officials to the 2022 Winter Olympics due to China's human rights "atrocities," it said earlier this month. Members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe (TYAE) and Students for a Free Tibet held a sit-in at the IOC building in Lausanne as officials gathered for a meeting. ALSO READ: Senior Japanese officials to skip Beijing Winter Olympics in a diplomatic boycott - Report The activists demanded countries withdraw from the event they have called the "Genocide Games", which they say are being used to burnish China's reputation. China seized control of Tibet after its troops entered the region in 1950 in what it calls a "peaceful liberation". Tibet has since become one of the most restricted areas in the country. Critics, led by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, say Beijing's rule amounts to "cultural genocide". Two activists unfurled a banner over the entry to the building reading, "No Beijing 2022," while five students got inside the building and held a sit-in protest. "Despite mounting international criticism of the IOC and China, the Chinese regime`s human rights abuses in Tibet, East Turkestan, and Hong Kong continue unabated," said Tenzing Dhokhar, Campaigns Director of TYAE, one of the protesters. "By collaborating with China, the IOC is making itself an accomplice of the Chinese Communist Party`s crimes, which will be sports-washed by the Beijing Olympics." Police started removing the campaigners after three hours of protests. Organisers and a Reuters eyewitness described the protest as peaceful, but the IOC said one of its security guards was injured. ALSO READ: Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says 'will pay price for wrong acts' "The IOC always listens to all concerns that are directly related to the Olympic Games. We have engaged multiple times with peaceful protesters and explained our position, but we will not engage with violent protesters who used force to enter the IOC building and injured a security guard by doing so," the IOC said in a statement. The organisation has previously said it is a force for good and cannot have any influence over sovereign states. Chinese authorities have been accused of facilitating forced labour by detaining around a million Uyghurs and other primarily Muslim minorities in camps since 2016. China denies wrongdoing, saying it has set up vocational training centres to combat extremism.

Tibetan students lock themselves to Olympic rings to protest Beijing Winter Olympics

Senior Japanese government officials will likely skip the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, joining the United States in a diplomatic boycott, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Saturday, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the matter.

Earlier this week, Canada joined Australia, Britain and the U.S. in saying they would not send top officials to the Games, citing longstanding concerns over China's human rights record.

China has called the boycotts "political posturing" and a smear campaign.

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The Yomiuri said Japan is likely to make a formal decision by the end of the month. The only officials now expected to attend are Olympics-related personnel, including Seiko Hashimoto, the former head of Tokyo's Olympic organising committee, the newspaper said.

On Friday, Japan's chief spokesman said nothing had been decided on whether the country was planning on sending officials to attend the event.

Senior Japanese government officials will likely skip the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, joining the United States in a diplomatic boycott, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Saturday, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the matter.

Senior Japanese government officials will likely skip the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, joining the United States in a diplomatic boycott, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Saturday, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the matter. Earlier this week, Canada joined Australia, Britain and the U.S. in saying they would not send top officials to the Games, citing longstanding concerns over China's human rights record. China has called the boycotts "political posturing" and a smear campaign. ALSO READ: Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says 'will pay price for wrong acts' The Yomiuri said Japan is likely to make a formal decision by the end of the month. The only officials now expected to attend are Olympics-related personnel, including Seiko Hashimoto, the former head of Tokyo's Olympic organising committee, the newspaper said. On Friday, Japan's chief spokesman said nothing had been decided on whether the country was planning on sending officials to attend the event.

Senior Japanese officials to skip Beijing Winter Olympics in a diplomatic boycott -  Report

France has refused to join the diplomatic boycott of the winter Olympics that is scheduled to take place in Beijing, calling such a move “insignificant”.

French President Emanuel Macron said that the boycott, led by the US and other western nations, is just a “symbolic step” and added that it won’t have any significant impact.

So far, only three countries— Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada—apart from US have openly declared their diplomatic boycott, saying that they would not send government representatives to the 2022 Winter Olympics to protest against China’s human rights record.

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/british-prime-minister-boris-johnson-announces-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-winter-olympics-2022-435220">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces 'diplomatic boycott' of Beijing Winter Olympics 2022</a>

These countries said that they would only send their athletes to participate in the event.

The boycott was also in response to a crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong and concerns about Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who was not seen for weeks after she accused a top government official of sexual assault.

“To be clear: You either have a complete boycott, and not send athletes, or you try to change things with useful actions,” AFP quoted Macron as saying at a news conference on Thursday.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/winter-olympics-china-warns-australia-uk-us-for-diplomatic-boycott-says-will-pay-price-for-wrong-acts-435445">&nbsp;Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says 'will pay price for wrong acts'</a>

He, however, added that he was “in favour of action that has a useful outcome”.

Questioning the utility of the diplomatic boycott, Macron noted that he “didn’t hear anybody in the world say: Let’s not send our athletes. So, we’re talking about something rather symbolic,” he said.

France would instead work with the International Olympic Committee on a charter guaranteeing the protection of athletes “given what has happened over recent weeks”, Macron said in an apparent reference to tennis player Peng Shuai.

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-announces-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-winter-olympics-citing-human-rights-violations-by-china-435284">Canada announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics citing human rights violations by China</a>

Beijing had reacted strongly to the boycott, saying that the countries “will pay the price for their mistaken acts”.

Meanwhile United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he had accepted an invitation to attend the opening of the games.

(With inputs from agencies)

France has refused to join the diplomatic boycott of the winter Olympics that is scheduled to take place in Beijing, calling such a move “insignificant”. French President Emanuel Macron said that the boycott, led by the US and other western nations, is just a “symbolic step” and added that it won’t have any significant impact.

France has refused to join the diplomatic boycott of the winter Olympics that is scheduled to take place in Beijing, calling such a move “insignificant”. French President Emanuel Macron said that the boycott, led by the US and other western nations, is just a “symbolic step” and added that it won’t have any significant impact. So far, only three countries— Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada—apart from US have openly declared their diplomatic boycott, saying that they would not send government representatives to the 2022 Winter Olympics to protest against China’s human rights record. Also read | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces 'diplomatic boycott' of Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 These countries said that they would only send their athletes to participate in the event. The boycott was also in response to a crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong and concerns about Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who was not seen for weeks after she accused a top government official of sexual assault. “To be clear: You either have a complete boycott, and not send athletes, or you try to change things with useful actions,” AFP quoted Macron as saying at a news conference on Thursday. Also read | Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says 'will pay price for wrong acts' He, however, added that he was “in favour of action that has a useful outcome”. Questioning the utility of the diplomatic boycott, Macron noted that he “didn’t hear anybody in the world say: Let’s not send our athletes. So, we’re talking about something rather symbolic,” he said. France would instead work with the International Olympic Committee on a charter guaranteeing the protection of athletes “given what has happened over recent weeks”, Macron said in an apparent reference to tennis player Peng Shuai. Also read | Canada announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics citing human rights violations by China Beijing had reacted strongly to the boycott, saying that the countries “will pay the price for their mistaken acts”. Meanwhile United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he had accepted an invitation to attend the opening of the games. (With inputs from agencies)

French President Macron calls diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics ‘insignificant’

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.

Canada joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Games

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