Following the 2008 Olympics, the issue of human rights repression has emerged.
Uncertainties such as the possibility of a recurrence of Corona 19
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is approaching 365 days ahead.
China finished construction of the stadium at the end of last year and is in full swing in preparation for the final stage of the Olympic Games.
However, with the possibility of canceling the Tokyo Summer Olympics due to the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) situation, it is unclear whether the Beijing Winter Olympics will be held normally as scheduled.
In addition, there is a movement to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics because of China’s suppression of human rights.
China is clearly expressing its commitment to a successful Olympic Games.
President Xi Jinping showed confidence in the success of the Olympics when he visited facilities related to the Beijing Olympics last month.
In addition, at the end of last month, in a phone call with the chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, he emphasized that China is creating conditions for the smooth hosting of the Olympics by suppressing Corona 19 and realizing a recovery.
However, the Corona 19 epidemic can act as a variable in hosting the Beijing Olympics.
China was confident that it had virtually won the war against Corona 19 last fall alone.
However, this winter, Corona 19 has spread rapidly in Beijing, the capital, and in nearby Hebei Province, and in Heilongjiang and Liaoning Provinces in the northeast.
Several places, including Shijiazhuang, Chengdu, Hebei Province, have also entered the city blockade.
Although one year remains before the Olympics, the situation of Corona 19 at home and abroad in China can remain a factor of great uncertainty in the event.
Moreover, the emergence of boycott claims for the Beijing Winter Olympics has emerged as a stumbling block.
At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the bloody suppression of Tibetan protests emerged as an issue, and boycott movements were strong.
Human rights issues, such as the suppression of Uighurs in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, have also been raised this time.
The association, in which about 180 human rights organizations participated, issued an open letter urging the world’s leaders to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Associated Press reported on the 3rd.
In an open letter, these groups demanded a boycott, saying, “If the Chinese leadership holds the Summer Olympics, it will further encourage the act of suppressing human rights and dismissing opposition.”
Some US senators have submitted a resolution to withdraw the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Six Republican lawmakers, including Congressman Rick Scott, said in the resolution, “China slaughtered Uyghurs in Xinjiang, suppressed democracy in Hong Kong, and threatened Taiwan.” “We need to make it possible to hold it,” he urged.
However, China is dismissing the Beijing Winter Olympics boycott claim.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wen-bin said at a briefing the previous day that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be a very good event.
Such actions will not be supported by the international community and will not succeed.”
Chinese media are raising the Olympic atmosphere, saying that Beijing will unite the world with a successful Olympics amid Corona 19.
China’s state-run CCTV said in a commentary on the day that the Beijing Winter Olympics will become a link that enables people around the world to unite in the corona 19 situation.
Sports critic Wang Dajiao said, “China’s hosting of the Winter Olympics is in line with the Olympic spirit.
In the Corona 19 situation, many people worry about whether humanity will be able to unite, and the successful Olympics will inspire people around the world,” he told the Global Times.
The newspaper reported that the preparations for the Beijing Olympics are approaching the final stage, and that the Olympic Stadium will begin operating in stages and a demonstration game will be held.
In addition, the slogan and theme song will be released, and preparations for the opening and closing ceremony will also be in full swing.
The Beijing Winter Olympics kick off on February 4 next year and will be held until February 20.
According to the CGTN, $3.9 billion (about 4.4 trillion won) was invested in this Olympics.
The game will be held in three places: downtown Beijing, Yanqing District outside Beijing, and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province, 190 km from Beijing.
Ice competitions are held in the city, and alpine skiing, bobsled, luge, and skeleton events are held in Yanqing.
Snowboarding and ski jumping are held in Zhangjiakou.
The newly constructed high-speed rail connects three major competition venues.
Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, is the first city in the world to host both the Winter and Summer Olympics.
Several stadiums used in 2008 will be transformed for next year’s Winter Olympics.
The water cube, which is a swimming pool, has become an ice cube where games such as curling and ice hockey are held.
/yunhap news