U.S. considering boycott of 2022 Beijing Olympics, State Department says 6park.com
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Henry Bushnell
Tue, April 6, 2021, 1:40 PM 6park.com
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 6park.com
Exiled Tibetans protest the 2022 Beijing Olympics. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
The United States Department of State said Tuesday that a "joint boycott" of the 2022 Beijing Olympics "is something that we certainly wish to discuss" with allies.
State Department spokesman Ned Price made the statement to reporters amid ongoing concerns about China's human rights abuses and calls for action around what some activists have termed the "Genocide Games."
The Games begin Feb. 4, 2022. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in late February that "there hasn’t been a final decision made" on U.S. participation. Government officials have not indicated that they are considering a boycott that would affect athletes.
Price did not specify whether the potential boycott in question was a full boycott, or merely a diplomatic boycott. The State Department did not immediately respond to an email seeking clarification. 6park.com
Calls for an 'economic and diplomatic boycott'
Many human rights groups have called on Western democracies to stage a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games. Mitt Romney, among other politicians, has called for an "economic and diplomatic boycott." Many experts expect one to materialize.
“I have trouble imagining various governments sending high level people at the moment,” Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, told Yahoo Sports last month. “The key here is to not give the Chinese government any particular legitimacy around this event.”
A diplomatic boycott could mean that no American dignitaries attend the Games. It could also involve corporate sponsors, fans and other stakeholders.
Price, the State Department spokesman, indicated that communication with other nations will be key. “A coordinated approach will not only be in our interest but also in the interest of our allies and partners,” he said Tuesday.
Price was also asked Monday whether he thinks American companies should reevaluate their participation in the 2022 Olympics. He acknowledged that a recent State Department report on human rights in China was "quite strong." The report accused Beijing of “crimes against humanity," and reaffirmed the U.S. position that China's detention of millions of Xinjiang Muslims constitutes genocide.
"I'm not going to offer advice to U.S. companies from this podium," Price said. "What I can say is, when it comes to the issue of the Beijing Olympics, that's something that we're consulting closely with our allies and partners [on]."
History of Olympic boycotts
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