After the initial scare, the boycott led by the United States against the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Beijing, did not gain proportions of serious risk to the events.
At least so far, with the competition opening shows scheduled for February 4th and March 4th, next year, respectively, the movement can be judged to be weak. Even because the protest unleashed by the United States has some expression (little, in fact) more at the level of oratory than a heavy burden against the Games, its organization and its preparations.
The movement is a diplomatic boycott, a political gesture that consists in the decision not to send government representatives to the Olympic ceremonies. Countries that join the boycott must not block the participation of their athletes in competitions.
The reason for the protest is not the Games themselves. The event is used as an instrument to reverberate denunciations of alleged human rights violations in China. The debates involve issues related to ethnic Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region, as well as allegations of political repression in Tibet and Hong Kong.
The conflict rose in tone as China hosts for the second time an event of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), with great worldwide repercussion, and human rights groups highlight that promises of improvements were not fulfilled after the 2008 Summer Games, too. in the Chinese capital.
The last Winter Games, in 2018, took place in a friendly atmosphere in PyeongChang, South Korea, with the participation of 2922 athletes (1680 men and 1242 women) from representatives from 92 countries.
One of the outstanding facts on that occasion was the union of the North and South Koreas, in the opening parade, breaking an impasse in relations between the two countries. Both also competed unified with an ice hockey team, which lost all five matches played. Due to the relevance of the initiative, it can be said that they were sweet defeats.
On the eve of PyeongChang, there was apprehension due to an outbreak of norovirus, a type of virus with high infectious capacity and resistance that causes symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and high fever. More than 200 cases have been reported, but the wave has not progressed and competitions have gone smoothly.
Today, even with the Covid-19 pandemic and its variants still claiming lives, research has advanced, allowing for more efficient control of contamination. The emergence of the flu wave, for the time being, does not jeopardize major sporting events, which adopt strict measures to ensure the safety of participants and fans, when their presence is allowed in stadiums.
The United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand were forerunners in the announcement of the diplomatic boycott. On Saturday (18), Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also revealed that his country will not send any federal government representative to the Games.
Lithuania will join the boycott, but for another reason: the dispute with China over the permission of a Taiwanese embassy in its capital, Vilnius. By contrast, Russia, via its Olympic committee, described Washington’s attitude as “counterproductive.” The Chinese embassy in the United States called the measure “pretentious”, “a political manipulation” and “a serious distortion of the spirit of the Olympic Charter”.
The exchange of barbs is traditional in Russia and the United States in international uproars, as the two countries have conflicting interests in the application of their policies and in market interventions, always marked by disputes in diplomatic relations.
Alongside China, both lead the world economy. Wladimir Putin, the Russian leader, confirmed that he will go to Beijing for the Games. An unpleasant memory: In 1980 and 1984, Russians and Americans boycotted the Olympics when they took place in each other’s territory.
And a curiosity: since 2019, Russia has continued to be suspended by extremely serious doping scams by athletes, with government support, and does not compete under the country’s flag and anthem, but rather under the IOC.
European powers such as France and Italy have already announced that they will not join any such initiative. The explanation is simple: France will host the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and Italy will host the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, cities in the northeast of the country.
In other words, they agree not to throw stones now, as they will soon become a window. Of course!
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