The British authorities have not yet made a decision regarding a possible diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. This was reported on December 7 by The Washington Post.
“London hasn’t made a decision yet. <...> We are actively considering our position, ”a British official told the publication.
In his opinion, this issue can be discussed at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries, which will be held on December 10-12 in Liverpool. He stressed that an official statement from London should be expected just then.
Earlier on December 7, it became known that New Zealand will not be represented “at the ministerial level” at the 2022 Olympics. The decision was not caused by a previously announced boycott by the United States, but by concerns about the epidemiological situation due to COVID-19, the authorities said.
On December 6, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced that the US administration had decided to stage a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, “taking into account the PRC’s genocide in Xinjiang and other human rights violations.” At the same time, American athletes will come to the competition.
In 1980, the United States completely boycotted the Olympic Games in Moscow.
The XXIV Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing from 4 to 20 February 2022. The capital of the PRC was chosen as the venue at the session of the International Olympic Committee in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015.