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Broadcasters urged to cancel plans to cover Beijing Olympics

46 Comments
By STEPHEN WADE

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46 Comments
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China cannot deny its atrocities in Xinjiang, Tibet, and other minority-populated areas. Boycott the Beijing Olympics or be complicit.

34 ( +39 / -5 )

Some of the world's largest broadcasters including American network NBC are being asked by human rights groups to cancel plans to cover next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing. 

I 100% support this. It'll be bad for both the CCP and the IOC - so you get to hurt the bottom line of two very corrupt organizations for the price of one.

36 ( +40 / -4 )

...its president Thomas Bach has declined to address or condemn the treatment of Uyghurs or other minorities in China.

The Olympic spirit of human camaraderie and global togetherness.*

*Terms and Conditions apply, offer not available in Xinjiang or Tibet.

27 ( +31 / -4 )

The IOC has repeatedly said it is only a sports body and its president Thomas Bach has declined to address or condemn the treatment of Uyghurs or other minorities in China. 

When it is in their interest, yes. The rest of the time it acts like an un-elected quasi-nation state brow-beating host cities with it's contract and turning a blind eye to the world's worst dopers and dictators (who tend to be the same states), perhaps because they are the only ones who will bid on the "games" anymore.

I will do this group one better: Major competitors like the US should boycott the games. Then there would be no reason for NBC to cover (or pay). The IOC would get the message through it's pocket book and start looking at the human rights records of applicants, and the PRC would throw a hissy-fit at being denied the credibility its totalitarian regime so desperately craves.

As things stand now, this is Berlin in 1936. Not exactly a good look for the "Olympic Movement"......

12 ( +16 / -4 )

Boycott the Genocide Games 2022.

Every athlete who attends, TV network who covers it, or advertiser that is connected to to it, should be mercilessly boycotted and attacked online, as they all tacitly support genocide against Muslims.

Its as simple as that.

13 ( +19 / -6 )

Unfortunately the plight of Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Hong Kong residents pales in insignificance compared to the billions of dollars of sponsorship on offer from big businesses. Therefore the broadcasters will only choose one option.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Considering the tens of thousands of Muslims that the US has murdered over the last twenty years, it seems the height of hypocrisy for them to accuse China of genocide. The State Department had listed the Uyghurs as terrorists until last year when it suited their agenda to remove then from the list.

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

If you really have to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing, there are good alternative venues not far from China: Japan. Sapporo and Nagano successfully hosted the winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998 respectively and they still have good facilities for winter sports. Besides, people in Japan are used to hosting sports events amid the pandemic.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

If you really have to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing, there are good alternative venues not far from China: Japan. Sapporo and Nagano successfully hosted the winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998 respectively and they still have good facilities for winter sports. Besides, people in Japan are used to hosting sports events amid the pandemic.

Please, please, do not wish more IOC corruption preying on Japan, and the poor Japanese taxpayer having to yet again fork out $Billions for another sick circus.

Enough is enough.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

We all know it will go forward, but I hope people are as loud as possible to show their opposition and hopefully stain the whole thing.

I will definitely not watch a minute of it.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

This is how the PRC dictatorships works, they will continue with their unacceptable behavior counting on people to accept money to turn the other way, and other people to claim nothing can be done so why bother.

The world needs to show Beijing that genocide is not acceptable. Only a full boycott wull drive that message through.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

If the States want to boycott the whole event we know the reason,not primarily just for human rights but more political and with the will to remain the only super power.

I’m firmly against China but in this matter I’m closer to the old continent moderate instance of dealing with the CCP.

Besides interesting that some of the usual Japan apologists are the firsts to post here,but their motive is more related with their nationalistic side.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Every athlete who attends, TV network who covers it, or advertiser that is connected to to it, should be mercilessly boycotted and attacked online, as they all tacitly support genocide against Muslims.

Wow! Attack the athletes while the rest of us buy products from China.

Would it not be better for athletes to attend, meet regular Chinese people, and perhaps influence their thinking and behavior if even in just small ways? Boycotting is likely to make many Chinese hate us even more.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Do you really think @albaleo 6:55pm the athlete’s would even get ‘a chance’ to meet “regular” Chinese people? Only ‘party’ members will be allowed to be part of the image on the international stage.

- “Would it not be better for athletes to attend, meet regular Chinese people, and perhaps influence their thinking and behavior if even in just small ways? Boycotting is likely to make many Chinese hate us even more.” -

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Don't you find it odd that only the western countries are up in arms about China's treatment of Uyghurs?

Not the Muslim countries?

Must be hard when China beats you economically using your rules so you have to fabricate reasons to sanction them.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Considering China's recent crackdown on anything foreign, I'm surprised that the CCP doesn't cancel the Olympics too, although I can see how they want to show the world their own culture and how much better they can do the Olympics than Tokyo can. Still, I hope the threat of a boycott can do some good.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

"Would it not be better for athletes to attend, meet regular Chinese people, and perhaps influence their thinking and behavior if even in just small ways?"

Don't count on it. We not likely to meet regular Chinese people at the Olympics. In case you do meet regular Chinese people you can be sure they will be watched by regular spies and a regular brutal cops.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Stop using sport, trade and everything else as a political weapon. We need to act globally to prevent climate change. Build borders around every nation and hide behind them, and we stand no chance. All you get from the nation state model is a descent into war.

If you could not hold a sports event in a nation that had not abused or did not still abuse human rights, there would be no international sports.

From presidentially-sanctioned torture in Guantanamo Bay to the abuse of the Uyghur people. All governments do it. Your nation isn't pure, so lose the holier than thou attitude.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

I dont expect the ioc or nbc to do anything I mean we just witnessed 100s of thousunds get covid, lord know how many death yet all ioc & nbc have eyes for are these $$$$

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Do you really think @albaleo 6:55pm the athlete’s would even get ‘a chance’ to meet “regular” Chinese people?

I've no idea, but even displaying simple good manners to a party member may have a small effect. Or perhaps just walking hand in hand with athletes from different countries and of different races or religions.

On the other hand, I don't see what benefit a boycott will bring to Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Hong Kong residents. Is it not just to make ourselves feel righteous?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I will not support these winter games in any way shape or form. I hope broadcasters refuse to televise them. Bach is an evil man who would sell his children if the price was right. No sport, no performance, no gooey stories of athletes overcoming obstacles justifies giving these games to the murderous Chinese regime..

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Thank you for your answer @albaleo 7:42p. - Your ideas are … well, “idealistic”, but the only “Utopia” the party envisions is, the one “The Party” envisions. - Look at Hong Kong in the last 24 hours and their efforts to ‘hold hands’ and remember those at Tiananmen:

- “China is currently remolding Hong Kong in its own authoritarian image,… an official campaign has been launched to purge the city of anyone deemed "unpatriotic".

Each Jun 4, the day of China's deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, it organized large candlelight vigils in Hong Kong's Victoria Park that were routinely attended by 10’s of 1,000’s of residents, crowds swelling in recent years as anger intensified over how Beijing was running the city.

*Slogans at the vigils often called for democracy in China and an end to one-party rule. Tolerance for such political defiance has since ended.*

The last two Tiananmen vigils were banned by police and city officials earlier this year shuttered a museum operated by the alliance” -

Do you honestly believe the Beijing would less stringent on any visible dissension when the eyes of the world are upon it?

https://japantoday.com/category/world/hong-kong-police-arrest-tiananmen-vigil-organisers -
-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Boycott vile China and the Genocide Olympics!!!

I do my very best not to purchase Chinese made products or food produce. I admit it is extremely difficult and in some instances I have been forced to buy Chinese made products because there is no alternative maker. This I want to be changed, I want other countries to start making products that only China makes. I want companies to stop ordering products to be made in China!

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Remember when the IOC sanctioned South Africa? I guess that was different.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

NBC would broadcast the holocaust if there was enough money in it. Wouldn't put any money down on them bypassing this cash cow either. Money. Money. Money..

3 ( +5 / -2 )

NBC's contract is with the IOC if that already hasn't been pointed out. I believe until 2030. Tough luck on everyone involved that these games are in China. Once again - its only about money so all your 'outrage' would be better directed at China directly rather than the IOC/NBC.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I’m proud to say I protested against them getting the 2008 olympics, it was a bad decision then and if anything they’re even worse now. They created a global pandemic, which they have never apologised for, and the world gives them an olympics? Trump was far from perfect, but he was willing to stand up to china..

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Not much of a stretch for some residents to transition, post “Tokyo” Olympics, to continuing to ‘shill for the IOC/NBC’. - And, with the same tactics, too!:

- “It’s not the IOC or NBC’s moral responsibility to cancel or forestall contracts. The responsibility lies with the host country.” -

Why should we expect their attitudes to be any different? Neither of those two organizations nor their supporters have been stalwarts of morality. John Lennon’s Imagine was just ‘part of the show’.

- “Tough luck on everyone involved that these games are in China. Once again - its only about money so all your 'outrage' would be better directed at China directly rather than the IOC/NBC.” -

Sorry, Xinjiang Uyghurs. Sorry, Hong Kong. Sorry, Tibet. Sorry, Mongolia. Sorry, As on reader posts: It’s just “Tough Luck!”. When you feel isolated and pained “Direct your outrage a China” and not at the ‘profiteers’.

- “Those payments are estimated to account for up to 40% of the IOC's total income. The letter says the broadcasters risk "being complicit" in the "worsening human rights abuses" in China.” -

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

China will use the winter Olympics to showcase China to the world at the expense of NBC. It is not China's intent to show the games in s sportsmanship like way. The spot light will be on how Great China is and to show the world over what their intent is and that is to dominate southeast Asia!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Fighto!Today  05:59 pm JST

Boycott the Genocide Games 2022.

Every athlete who attends, TV network who covers it, or advertiser that is connected to to it, should be mercilessly boycotted and attacked online, as they all tacitly support genocide against Muslims.

Its as simple as that.

That's fair enough. I assume you're all up for supporting the games in Paris in 3 years time?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

MeiyouwentiToday  06:11 pm JST

If you really have to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing, there are good alternative venues not far from China: Japan. Sapporo and Nagano successfully hosted the winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998 respectively and they still have good facilities for winter sports. Besides, people in Japan are used to hosting sports events amid the pandemic.

Here we go. A solution that suits everyone!

I mean, it is human rights that are the main reason to suggest a boycott right?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The irony will be that, some/many/most/all (pick one) networks and publishers will use the legitimate concerns over human rights in the host country to increase viewership and readership of their coverage. After all is said and done, it really IS about the ratings and the clicks per story that will motivate their conduct, about the winter games and any other matter that generates considerable controversy.

Irony, too, that the Party will use the games and the controversy to showcase just how great it is to live in China and how lucky anyone can be to have the Leader that they have, to guide them through the evil that lurks away from the Belt & Road.

Sad times.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Thank you for your answer @albaleo 7:42p. - Your ideas are … well, “idealistic”, 

And there was me thinking my ideas were more practical than a boycott, which I see as somewhat idealistic or simply self-righteous. My original comment was in response to a remark that attending athletes should be "mercilessly boycotted and attacked online".

I quite abhor China's territorial nationalism, but how best to change that. Asking athletes to carry the can when our politicians make no statements about China breaking Article 1 of the UN charter (respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples) seems wrong to me.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Any journalist covering these games should keep in mind that anyone that he or she comes in contact with, no matter how casually, will likely come under scrutiny. Perhaps investigation. Best that can be hoped for is preventive re-education.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

In the 1930’s there were photographs of what’s happening in the camps. In 2021 where are the pictures?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Boycott the Genocide Olympics, I whole heartedly agree.

Over and above that let’s all deluge both our elected representatives and the CEO’s of sponsoring companies and the broadcast organisations with complaints and demands they cease their support for genocide, oppression and brutalising horrors being perpetrated in China.

It’s not hard, a couple of e-mails from each of us, no harder than posting on this site!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

USA Broadcasters, the same who are more than happy to flood your tv with nonstop coverage of the atrocities of countries, are the very same corporations who will not flush away the rights to broadcast the Olympics, regardless of whether they were in North Korea or The Islamic State.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Now the real games begin. Just glad Japan managed to pull it off and pass the hot potato on to, China. It’s either gunna be a milestone and turning point for the world, where diplomacy and sportsmanship prevails, or just really really awkward. Balls in Chinas court. Your move guys.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

You don't want these big event to happen in Japan. You don't want in China. Where do you want then? What about racism World Cup next year? Speak up fairly by knowing the knowledge from both sides. Don't be stereotype.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Foreigners in China are being shunned and mistreated by locals for fear of spreading corona virus, just how ridiculous can be that? And you want to hold an international event in that place? CCP is the enemy of the human race

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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