Political pressure is mounting ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. but the Swedish Olympic Committee’s decision on the games stands firm.
– It is not relevant with any boycott, says operations manager Peter Reinebo.
On February 4, 2022, the Winter Games in Beijing will be inaugurated. The Chinese capital will be the first city to host both a summer and a winter Olympics.
But just as before the summer games in 2008, the criticism from human rights organizations is harsh against China being allowed to host the Olympics at all.
“China is in the midst of the worst attack on human rights since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989”
Minky Worden, Human Rights Watch
Therefore, many organizations have demanded that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urgently implement its strategy for working on human rights. They say it would provide more significant opportunities to put pressure on China.
IOC President Thomas Bach recently appealed for the policy to be kept out of the Olympics. However, Human Rights Watch warns that China may use the Olympics as a propaganda tool.
– You may have heard senior IOC leaders say that the Olympics are not political. We wanted someone to tell the Chinese government, says Minky Worden.
At the same time, votes are also being raised for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. However, this is not the case, according to Peter Reinebo.
– It is probably mainly individual politicians in individual countries who think so, often opposition politicians. But in the Olympic world, I feel very few believe that a boycott is a right way to go, he says.
Peter Reinebo
– We are part of the Olympic community, and we will not boycott.
However, he welcomes the fact that individual athletes are directing criticism. For example, biathlete Sebastian Samuelsson and skating star Nils van der Poel have done.
– It is an opportunity you have, and we think those who want should take that chance. But freedom of expression also includes that you can choose not to do so, says Peter Reinebo.
Among other things, China’s treatment of the Uighur and Tibetan ethnic groups is the reason for the criticism. But also how Hong Kong is handled.
According to Peter Reinebo, it is not sure that Beijing would win the 2022 Olympics if they made the decision today.
– I feel that the IOC has started to work with these issues actively in a completely different way in recent years. But it is clear that it is a balance with 206 member states not to make themselves impossible on any side, he says.
– It is possible that if it were to be decided today where the Winter Olympics would be held in 2022, there would be a different outcome.
At the same time, Reinebo continues, it can not only be sports that take responsibility.
– We have a responsibility, but we should not take over the responsibility of politicians or the business community.
– Sometimes, a sports organization can feel a little lonely when the expectations are that if only we do this or that, maybe it will be better. We should do what we can, but we can not do it alone.