What Is a Problem of the Beijing Olympics?

The Beijing Olympics will start on 4th February.

Regarding the Beijing Olympics, some countries such as the United States and Australia have decided to conduct a "diplomatic boycott" by not sending major government officials to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies due to human rights issues in China.

The Chinese Government opposes the "politicisation of sports" and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticises the linking of the Olympics with politics. Therefore, the moves by the USA, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries may be considered as a typical example of the "politicisation of the Olympics.

However, if the essence of diplomacy lies in concessions and compromises, the fact that some contries will send athletes to the Beijing Olympics even if they engage in a "diplomatic boycott" has a significant meaning.

In other words, the Chinese Government's opposition to the "politicisation of sports" implies the "separation of sports and politics". Not sending government officials means China indirectly allows the USA and fellow countries to make political statements. On the other hand, countries that engage in a "diplomatic boycott" will allow their athletes to participate in the Olympics as planned. As a result, each country will take the stance that "sport is sport" and the Chinese Government will be albe to save face.

The fact that countries do not abandon sending their athletes underscores the symbolic meaning of the "diplomatic boycott". However, the participation of the athletes will allow the Chinese authorities to show off the success of the Games.

In fact, the current situation of the spread of the COVID-19 is undesirable for the Chinese Government, which is taking strict measures to prevent the disease and limiting audiences to domestic residents only, and trying to demonstrate the success of the authorities' response by saying "We suppressed the COVID-19 disaster and made the Olympics a success".

Therefore, Beijing is trying to use various methods to contain the infection and hold the event as planned.

Furthermore, whether it is a "diplomatic boycott" or a "containment of the corona scourge", it is clear that the IOC's principle of "athletes first" has become a dead letter in the fact that athletes do not figure prominently in the process.

Because of the strict control exercised by the authorities, the Beijing Olympics also makes us question the nature of the Olympics.

With only a few days left until the start of the games, there are still many issues that need to be resolved by the Beijing Olympics.

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開幕1週間前に改めて考える「北京オリンピックの持つ問題点」

冬季オリンピック北京大会は2月4日に開幕する。開幕に先立ち、米国を中心とする各国が「外交ボイコット」を行う理由とその影響、さらに北京オリンピックを巡る問題点について検討する。