Over 200 NGOs and rights organizations have called for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. They have raised concerns about atrocities and human rights violations by the Chinese government.
An alliance of 243 human rights organizations and nongovernment organizations have called for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games, a week before the event begins.
“The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will open amid atrocities and other grave human rights violations by the Chinese government,” the organizations said in a statement.
Human Rights Watch, Frontline Defenders, Women’s Rights Without Frontiers were among the signatories of the petition calling on politicians to boycott the Games.
Some countries fear China would spy on some countries. The British Olympic Association said they would offer temporary phones to Team GB athletes and staff when they leave for Winter Olympics in the fears they could be spied on by the Chinese government.
The Dutch Olympic team also would carry only their temporary phones. On the other hand, Canada announced a diplomatic boycott of the winter games in December, they said that the government officials will not attend but athletes would participate.
The US had said it would follow a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics and was soon followed by Australia, Britain, Japan and Canada. China warned the US would “pay the price.”
Washington said it would not send diplomatic representation to the Games due to China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity” against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
However, athletes from boycotting countries will be competing at the Olympics, which run from February 4-20.