China News Network, December 16, comprehensive report, recently, led by the United States, a few Western countries have announced that "no officials will attend" the Beijing Winter Olympics, in this regard, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Bach made it clear that most countries will not join the US-led action. At the same time, Pound, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee, also recently stated that he did not regret granting the right to host the Winter Olympics to China.
Infographic: IOC President Bach.
On the evening of the 14th local time, when Bach talked about this matter to a German media, he first said that "countries like the United States, Britain and Australia have made such a decision (not to send officials to attend the Winter Olympics)".
Subsequently, Bach pointed out, "If we say that there will be 90 National Olympic Committees attending this Winter Olympic Games, it is likely that more than 70 or even more than 80 governments have not made such a statement." ”
"One thing they all have in common is that they support their Olympic teams so that their athletes can achieve their Olympic dreams," Bach said. ”
Bach has previously warned that politicizing the Olympics would only deprive athletes of the opportunity to share their success in the Games, contrary to the overall spirit and values of the Olympic Movement.
In Bach's view, "politicization threatens the future of the Olympic Games." Politicizing the Olympics will lead to the end of the Games."
On December 11, local time, the "Together to the Future" Beijing Winter Olympics Cultural Day hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in New York was held at the Wengang Botanical Garden on Stanton Island, New York. Photo by Liao Pan, a reporter from China News Service
Just a day earlier, Reuters had reported on the latest remarks by senior IOC Commissioner Pound on the matter, saying that "from the perspective of a host who can host an organized and excellent Olympic Games, China has absolutely no problem", and he also stressed that "China is a very good and very organized country".
Pound reiterated that the IOC would not meddle in the political affairs of any country.
As Bach and Pound say, there are only a few countries that really want to force themselves to "add drama" and make decisions not to send officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics.
On 11 December, the IOC held its 10th Olympic Summit, at which it issued a declaration firmly opposing the politicization of the Olympic movement and sport. Not only that, but the declaration also welcomed the adoption by consensus of the 76th session of the Ungalacil of the Olympic Truce resolution proposed by 173 countries, which is a manifestation of the strong support of the Un Nations Member States for the Beijing Winter Olympics.
As of now, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin have said they were invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. According to The Chinese Foreign Ministry, many heads of state, heads of government and members of the royal family have registered to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics.
On November 5, the Flame of the Winter Olympics was displayed at the "Flames Through Time and Space - Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Torch Relay Theme Exhibition". Photo by China News Service reporter Hou Yu
At the same time, many countries such as South Korea, South Africa, Iran and Venezuela have also spoken out in different ways in support of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The European Commission also issued a statement arguing that "such platforms (the Winter Olympics) should not be used for political propaganda".
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also said in recent days that respecting the principle of political neutrality of the Olympic movement and avoiding the politicization of sports is the common voice of the international community, especially the Olympic committees and athletes of various countries.
Wang Wenbin said that the Olympic Charter clearly points out that sports are a human right, and the words and deeds that politicize the Olympic Games are not only a violation of the human rights of athletes, but also a blasphemy against the Olympic spirit, which runs counter to the trend of the times of unity and cooperation.
On February 4, 2022, the 24th Winter Olympic Games will be grandly opened in Beijing. It is believed that with the joint efforts of all parties, Beijing in more than 40 days will be able to present a simple, safe and wonderful Olympic event to the world. (End)