Winter games relief for China as Russian President Putin pledges attendance
Global nations had joined a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter games alleging human rights abuses by China
Even as a large chunk of nations worldwide have pledged themselves to be part of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics scheduled to begin in Beijing, China has found a strategic ally in Russia who would stand by it.
The relief for China came after Russian president Vladimir Putin made it clear that he would attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in the Chinese city. By doing so, Putin has become one of the first major world leaders to promise attendance for the prestigious games the Asian communist nation would host. The 2022 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to get underway in February.
Putin stance a relief for China’s Winter Olympics plans
Putin, reportedly pledged his attendance for the Winter Olympics in a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Stating that he looked forward to a “get-together”, Putin pushed behind China’s worries of a global boycott of the games.
Most global nations had decided to join a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games because they believed that human rights abuses have been continuing in China. China has been charged with genocide as it allegedly went about persecution of the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. The allegation, however, has been rubbished by Beijing already.
Besides this, China has also been accused of suppressing political freedom in Hong Kong. A case in point is that of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai who disappeared from public glare for weeks after she lashed out at a top government official alleging sexual assault against her in November. Diplomatic missions from across the world had taken a tough stance against China after the sexual assault charges spilled over.
US, UK Aussie officials to give Winter games the miss
Taking a definite stand against the Asian communist country were the US, UK, Australia and Canada, who made it known that high-level officials from their soil will not attend the winter Games. However, athletes from these countries will compete at Beijing at the games.
The China administration had reacted to this stance taken by the top nations saying that they would “pay the price for their mistaken acts”. Slamming these nations for using the Olympics for political manipulation, China was indeed harsh on them for adopting such a stance.
Putin’s show of camaraderie with Xi Jinping banks on what the Russian President described as support to each other when it comes to international sports cooperation.
