Title: Australia joins US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

Time: Dec. 7th

TV Channel: RT

News reviewer: Benjamin Chiao

Link：https://youtu.be/TgxN0cy0FBk

Abstract：

Professor Benjamin Chiao commented on the diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics on Dec 8, 2021.

He said: “the idea of politicizing sports is unwelcoming for many countries and is strictly forbidden in the Olympics charter…. Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter bans any form of political protest during the Games… the spotlights should be back on the hardworking athletes.”

In view of the mixed results of such boycott, he said “athletes are likely to be disappointed NOT to see their national leaders coming over to give cheers. Even the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee is firmly against any boycott saying that boycotts have been shown to negatively impact athletes while not effectively addressing global issues, and that they said they believe the more effective course of action is for the governments of the world and China to engage directly on geopolitical issues.”

“Even within the States, there is no consensus about a boycott. The USOPC also sent a letter to Congress earlier that outlined their disapproval of any such move, pointing to 1980 as evidence for why boycotts don’t work. Instead, the USOPC argued this is a chance to showcase ‘America’s best.”