Beijing 2022: "Diplomatic boycott" announced by the United States, the IOC "respects" this decision

The United States has officially announced a diplomatic boycott (absence of diplomatic representative, but participation of athletes) of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (04-20/02/2022) on 06/12/2021. US President Joe Biden had already stated that the country was "considering" a diplomatic boycott of the event on 18/11/2021.

This decision was prompted by "the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses," said the White House. By attending the Beijing 2022 Olympics, "the US diplomatic or official representation would treat these Games as business as usual in the face of China’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang. And we simply can’t do that," said Jen Psaki, spokeperson for the White House. 

"The presence of government officials and diplomats is a purely political decision for each government, which the IOC in its political neutrality fully respects," said a spokeperson for the Olympic body, to the AFP, on 06/12/2021.

• France "has duly noted" the United States' announcement of a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter…