Boycotting the 2022 Beijing Olympics?

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First published: Saturday June 25th, 2022
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The Boycott

According to many sources, the USA, UK, Canada, India, Australia, Lithuania, Kosovo, Belgium, Denmark, and Estonia "boycotted" the games. Athletes would compete (at least for the US), but no officials or diplomats would attend. This was to protest the Uyghurs' treatment. Maybe one of the best ideas ever? Maybe they should have pulled a 1984 Soviet Union play and completely abandoned the Games? I don't know. It was interesting, since it was rare for the USA to boycott the olympics, and a first for the UK and Canada, and for others. Here is a link to a news article on it: https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-59644043 . Let me know your opinions. Until then, stay safe and healthy!

Level 68

Jun 26, 2022

Not going to lie, I think the diplomatic boycott was sort of... useless?

Sure, it was symbolic and all, it showed that the West didn't like the Chinese government being absolutely terrible to the Uygher people, but it didn't change anything back then, and it doesn't change anything now. Emmanuel Macron said something along these lines in the article you linked.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have done it, but if the West is so apparently set on exposing China and punishing it for its actions, I feel like a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics is one of the least helpful things we could've done.

Now, what is something better they could do? I don't know. That's why I'm not a part of the government. Maybe a start would be weaning ourselves off of Chinese trade. If, like we say, we truly care about how the Uyghers are being treated, we wouldn't do business with the government that is abusing them.

Level 68

Jun 26, 2022

As for a full boycott of the games… I think it’s a good thing we didn’t do that. Firstly, like the diplomatic boycotts, it will do absolutely nil. So what if we don’t send our athletes to the games? Is Xi Jinping going to apologize and stop abusing the Uyghers just because he doesn’t get to see the US Olympic Team in Beijing? Look at the US-led full boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Did that make the Soviets withdraw from Afghanistan?

Speaking of the athletes, all this will do is hurt them. Olympic athletes train so much for the big games, and the government just taking away their ability to go, whether they want to go or not, is extremely damaging to the athletes’ morale. And besides, if we don’t go to the games, will we just watch China dominate it? That’s exactly what happened in 1980 with the Soviet Union.

Sorry if this all sounds harsh, I don’t mean to be rude or anything. Maybe you could expand on your thoughts? It would be interesting to hear different perspectives.

Level 45

Jun 26, 2022

I agree with what you said. Again, the suggestion of a full abandonment of the games was something off the top of my mind. I think that yes, it should be boycotted, even though it hurts the athletes. The West does care about the Uyghurs, but what would it do for the Uyghurs. China would probably just execute them anyways? I do not see anyone hurt by the boycott other than the athletes. But, maybe it should have been boycotted. My point: It would not do much for the Uyghurs. Just would hurt the athletes since they train so hard.

Level 55

Jun 26, 2022

I honestly think that this wouldn’t do much good. We’re talking about the CCP, a communist party that really doesn’t listen to people. Boycotting wouldn’t do much good

Level 76

Jul 3, 2022

The boycott was strong as chinesium. I think these politicians simply sell their own people the public image their people want to buy, while doing the hanky-panky with China as soon as your eye is distracted. It's like the corporation rainbow flag games while financing anti-"rainbow people" politicians on the side, or BP scolding people for not being green enough.

Level 50

Jul 6, 2022

Why is literally every comment so long on this blog