Canada PM Justin Trudeau announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics 2022


Canada PM Justin Trudeau announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Canadian officials won't be seen during 2022 Beijing Winter Games - PM Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced a “diplomatic boycott” of the upcoming 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. This has come days after the United States of America (USA), the UK, Lithuania, and Australia made a similar decision.

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This means that as many as five countries have made an announcement of boycotting the 2022 Beijing Games, scheduled from February 4 onwards.

“Canada remains deeply disturbed by reports of human rights violations in China. As a result, we won’t be sending diplomatic representatives to Beijing for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We’ll continue to support our athletes who work hard to compete on the world stage,” tweeted Justin Trudeau.

“We will not be sending any diplomatic representation to Beijing’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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“We have been very clear over the past many years of our deep concerns around human rights violations, and this is a continuation of us expressing our deep concern,” the Canadian PM told reporters on Parliament Hill Wednesday.

Chinese Embassy expresses strong dissatisfaction with Canada’s claims

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Soon after the Canadian Government made this announcement, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa was quick to react and discard all claims by Trudeau. In an official statement issued by them, they accused Canada and other Western governments of “being engaged in political manoeuvring” based on “ideological biases as well as lies and rumours” in an attempt to “disrupt the smooth progress of Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”.

“The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and has lodged stern representations with the Canadian side,” the statement said.

“We also recognise how this announcement draws the important distinction between the participation of athletes and the participation of government officials at the Games.“Canada must stop politicizing sports, stop disrupting and undermining the Beijing Winter Olympics immediately, lest it should lead to self-inflicted humiliation,” it concluded.

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Also Read | Australia joins the US in diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China