SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 8 hrs 26 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

IOC president claims planned Beijing boycott has "no logic"

:Headline: IOC president claims planned Beijing boycott has 'no logic':
China has been criticised by human rights groups and activists.
Sports Mole

An athlete boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights abuses would not achieve anything, the president of the International Olympic Committee has said.

China has been criticised by human rights groups and activists, in particular its treatment of the Uighur Muslim population.

There have been calls for the IOC to use its global position to speak out against the abuse, and for athletes to boycott the Games.

“Why would you punish the athletes from your own country if you have a dispute with athletes from another country?”
- Thomas Bach

However, IOC chief Thomas Bach says those considering a boycott should learn from history.

"We can only repeat and give advice to learn from history – a boycott of the Olympic Games has never achieved anything," he said at the end of the IOC Session, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Be mindful of the boycott in Moscow in 1980 because of the intervention of the Soviet army in Afghanistan. The Soviet army withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 – nine years after.

"So it really served nothing but punishing the athletes and then led to the counter-boycott in Los Angeles. It also has no logic, why would you punish the athletes from your own country if you have a dispute with athletes from another country?

"This just makes no real sense. The athletes would be the ones who are suffering."

Bach also stated that one of the key principles of the Olympic Charter is political neutrality.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked last month whether TeamGB should boycott the event and said: "We're not normally in favour of sporting boycotts in this country and that's been the long-standing position of this Government."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the British Government did not favour sporting boycotts (PA)

At the same time, TeamGB chef de mission Georgie Harland said there is "no question" of Britain boycotting the Games.

On Thursday, the president of the United States' Olympic and Paralympic Committee Susanne Lyons said it would not boycott Beijing.

"Boycotts only hurt athletes who have trained their entire lives for this opportunity to represent their country," she said.

On this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo, Bach reiterated his view that the Japanese authorities would have the final say on whether overseas spectators would be allowed into the country.

The president of the local organising committee Seiko Hashimoto has said a decision will be taken by March 25, but there have been calls from IOC members during the Session to delay that.

Bach said: "This is not a decision you can implement from one day to another. There is a lot to follow up with regard to the organisation of the Games, this is extremely complex.

"This is why we said from the very beginning this will be the decision of our Japanese partners and friends and we will respect the decision."

body check tags ::

amp_article__438984 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-12 19:52:55:
html db last update - 2021-03-12 19:52:55 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Georgie Harland

Share this article now:
SB
Read Next:
Thursday's sporting social: Birthday celebrations and SBW retires
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Georgie Harland Thomas Bach Other
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Thursday's sporting social: Birthday celebrations and SBW retires
"I was focused on a big thing with Leverkusen": Alonso responds to Liverpool links
A hint or a plea? Salah posts mysterious Liverpool contract message

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

"I was focused on a big thing with Leverkusen": Alonso responds to Liverpool links

1

&W

Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Real Madrid vs. AC Milan

2

TC

Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors - prediction, team news, form guide

NEW

3

PB

Preview: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers - prediction, team news, form guide

NEW

4

PM

Three left-backs, five Londoners: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

5

TL

Tuesday's Championship predictions including Swansea City vs. Watford

6

TC

Tuesday's League One predictions including Stockport vs. Wycombe

7

TL

Two European giants 'to rival' Real Madrid for Chelsea midfielder

8

TE

Preview: Red Star vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PR

Is Haaland injured? Guardiola reveals all ahead of Sporting clash

10

IH


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .