Athletes go, Biden stays: Will the Olympics boycott carry weight?
by Noah Robertson
Feb 02, 2022
4 minutes
The United States has trimmed its roster for this year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. But not of athletes – instead, the U.S. isn’t sending its usual slate of political officials to the Games.
This “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing Olympics is a bank-shot response to political and human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. It allows U.S. President Joe Biden to confront the Chinese Communist Party’s behavior, but without a direct, more controversial athlete boycott.
It’s not clear whether that shot will score the administration any points, but about half a dozen other countries – including Australia, Britain, and Canada – have followed suit.
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days