The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has responded to calls for boycotting the XXIV Olympic Winter Games, or Beijing 2022, set to open February 4 with a message urging China to warmly welcome athletes to the winter games.
IOC president Thomas Bach said China should be ready to welcome the best winter sport athletes across the world in a congratulatory letter to China Media Group (CMG) president Shen Haixiong.
"As we count down to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this summer and look ahead to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 one year from now, I would like to thank you very much for your ongoing support of and commitment to the Olympic Movement," said Bach in his letter to Shen.
In September 2020, CMG and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics signed an agreement establishing a communication and cooperation mechanism to ensure the smooth broadcast of the winter games.
Bach also revealed President Xi Jinping had expressed confidence China will host a successful Winter Olympics.
"We also agreed on the essential importance of respecting the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement as to be beyond any political dispute," according to Bach.
Bach also noted that the strong international support for both the Summer Games in Tokyo starting this July and Beijing 2022 had boosted the confidence of the IOC, which has spared no effort preparing for the back-to-back Olympic Games over the past 14 months.
He pointed out the United Nations General Assembly recently unanimously adopted a resolution that explicitly welcomes with appreciation all the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. On the other hand, G20 leaders also declared their support for the Tokyo 2021 and Beijing 2022 Games at the summit.
"We are always stronger together," Bach pointed out.
There are loud calls for countries to boycott Beijing 2022 due to China's sullied human rights record. Catalyst, for demanding the boycott, is the persecution of China's Muslim Uyghur minority, which the United States calls "genocide," and the harsh crackdown on pro-democracy citizens of Hong Kong.
These events prompted United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in October to declare he's not ruling out Britain boycotting Beijing 2022.
Last week, a coalition of 180 rights groups demanded a boycott of Beijing 2022 due to China's continuing human rights abuses against ethnic minorities.
Bach affirmed the already delayed Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo set to start July 23 and end August 8 will definitely be held despite COVID-19.
"We are holding the Olympics and Paralympics this summer," noted Bach.
"I am determined to achieve the games as a proof of human victory against the pandemic, a symbol of global solidarity and to give hope and encourage around the world," he said.
"With the unity of purpose, from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the International Federations and from the athletes, we have at his stage no reason whatsoever to doubt that the opening ceremony (of Tokyo Olympics) will take place on July 23, 2021, and that the Paralympic Games will open a month later, on August 24, 2021," according to Bach.
"The question is not 'whether' but 'how' these Olympic Games will take place."
