Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) does not believe in a political boycott of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Austria was “against the politicization of the Games”, Nehammer told the German daily newspaper “Welt” (Tuesday edition). Because of the high Covid requirements in China, there will be no high-ranking politicians visits from Austria, he added. The US announced a boycott of Beijing 2022 the previous week.
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) then informed APA that he would refrain from traveling to the Winter Games due to the human rights situation in China. He announced this to the Austrian Olympic Committee two months ago, said Kogler. “As far as the question of supporting a diplomatic boycott is concerned, talks should be held at government level, but above all at European level,” added the Greens leader.
China threatens retaliation
While several allies have joined the White House move announced last Monday, the response in Europe has remained low.
The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) confirmed on Monday evening that the EU foreign ministers could not have agreed on a common line at their meeting on Monday.
China reacted sharply to the US boycott announcement and promised retaliatory measures.
Nehammer “against politicization of the games”
In response to a question from the “world”, Nehammer said: “No high-ranking politicians from Austria will attend the Olympic Games in China. This is not a diplomatic protest or boycott, it is solely due to the fact that the Covid requirements in China are rightly very high. “
Due to these requirements, politicians cannot meet athletes in person in China. “I prefer to meet our athletes in Vienna personally,” said Nehammer. “We are against politicizing the Games and we are voting in the EU,” he added.
Textquelle: © APA
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