China Threatens UK, Australia and USA Over Games Boycott

The UK and Canada have the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing concerns over China’s human rights record. 

The US, UK and Australia will “pay the price for their mistaken acts” after deciding not to send government delegations to the Winter Olympics, China’s foreign ministry has said. 

“The United States, Britain and Australia have used the Olympics platform for political manipulation”

said Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry. Reuters reports.

China is not worried about a “domino effect” of diplomatic boycotts of the Winter Olympics. “Most countries in the world have expressed support for the Beijing Winter Olympics,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily news conference today. Reuters reports.

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Iran Olympics Boycott?

There are some rumours floating around Twitter that Iran is considering boycotting the London 2012 Olympics, as retribution for the recently announced sanctions and worsening relations.

It is not clear as to whether this particular rumour is true or not. However, the talk about Iran possibly boycotting the games is not new.

In February this year the Iranians were making nosies about boycotting the games because of their dislike of the Olympics logo:

"The National Olympic Committee of Iran has sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) complaining about the logo of 2012 London Olympic Games.

For why?

Apparently, the logo says "Zion"???!!"

In other words, the threat of an Iranian boycott is nothing more than "business as usual".

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Hypocrisy

Those people, such as Sarkozy, who call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics might have greater credibility if it were not for the fact that a large amount of Western imported consumer goods and clothes are manufactured in China.

Those who call for a boycott, whilst still enjoying the tangible products of China, are hypocrites.

The Shrill Voices

Those who are shrilly calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, in response to the current unrest in Tibet, should heed the words of the Dalai Lama.

"The Olympics should not be called off.

The Chinese people... need to feel proud of it. China deserves to be a host of the Olympic Games."

Source The Times.

Get Real

All of those siren voices, and celebs, who are calling for a boycott of the Olympics in China need to understand the following.

When you stop buying Chinese products and clothes, then you may have a moral leg to stand on in your call for a boycott. However, even if you manage to source all of your products from outside of China, the majority of people in the West will still continue to buy Chinese products.

Why boycott the Games, when we continue to buy the products?

Protests Increase

Following on from Steve Spielberg's decision to drop out of advising the Beijing Olympics, eight Nobel peace laureates have written on open letter to the Chinese president demanding action to end "atrocities" in Sudan.

The open letter, published in The Independent newspaper, accuses China of "providing resources that make it easier for that government to continue to carry out its atrocities".

Olympic athletes, MPs and business leaders are among the other signatories.

The Olympics, despite the best efforts/wishes of the Chinese and IOC, does not and cannot exist in a vacuum. However, engagement rather than boycott is the best way to promote understanding and change.

US To Boycott Olympics?

It would seem that the US is hinting that it may boycott the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, unless China is more supportive over sanction re the Darfur crisis.

I can't see the Chinese being particularly impressed with that threat. Maybe they could retaliate and ban the US from the Games, over the Iraq fiasco?