Biden administration expected to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, CNN reports

The Biden administration is set to announce this week that US government officials will not attend the 2022 Beijing Olympics, according to CNN. President Joe Biden said in November that they were “considering” a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympics over China’s human rights records.

The move would keep US officials from the Games, but not the athletes.

In a press conference, Press Secretary Jen Psaki added that the US has “serious concerns” about alleged human rights abuses in China.

Biden administration expected to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, CNN reports

The Biden administration is set to announce this week that US government officials will not attend the 2022 Beijing Olympics, according to CNN. President Joe Biden said in November that they were “considering” a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympics over China’s human rights records.

The move would keep US officials from the Games, but not the athletes.

In a press conference, Press Secretary Jen Psaki added that the US has “serious concerns” about alleged human rights abuses in China.

Well that would be a good decision by Joe.  I wonder how quickly tennis player Peng Shuai will be released?

Well that would be a good decision by Joe.  I wonder how quickly tennis player Peng Shuai will be released?

The missing tennis player is just not acceptable especially with a country like China, I wonder who else will follow suit?

I really enjoy the winter Olympics, more than the summer ones, with all of its pretend sports. There should be some great competition in the biathlons this year. I suspect there'll be some suspicious performance from the hosts, but the Norwegians or Germans will top the table.

I really enjoy the winter Olympics, more than the summer ones, with all of its pretend sports. There should be some great competition in the biathlons this year. I suspect there'll be some suspicious performance from the hosts, but the Norwegians or Germans will top the table.

I thought the Norwegians were serious about human rights?  Obviously not if they turn up.

The Australian

Australia is actively considering staging a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics after the United States announced it would not send officials to the sporting event in February. The White House confirmed on Tuesday morning that the US will stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics to protest against China’s human rights abuses. Employment Minister Stuart Robert said a similar move was under “active consideration” by the Morrison government.

China has promised to retaliate after the US said it would impose a full diplomatic boycott on the Beijing Winter Olympics, a move sure to encourage other nations to follow suit.

Australia will follow the US in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Australian athletes will still be able to compete.

At this point, I am tipping China to top the tally, followed not so closely by Jamaica.

China? What a ridiculous comment. They only won one gold last time. They will certainly do a bit better this time, home town advantage and all. But they'll be will behind the Scandinavian duo, Germany, Austria, Swiss, Canada and a few others. These European nations take this seriously, it's much more important to them than the summer event, which they approach more as high school sports carnia.

The Norwegians and Germans have potential winners across the board, every event. Others, like the Dutch, the French, the Swiss, the Koreans and the Canadians are good, but rather specialised. I expect a good showing from the Russians.

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the Australian athletes who chose to attend did so under the Olympic flag, not Australian flag.  I wonder if they'll do that in 2022?

At the time, Jimmy Carter even proposed that the Summer Olympics be permanently held in Greece every 4 years.  Maybe the Swiss could hold the Winter Games each time due to their neutrality and location?

A neutral country? What are you dribbling on about. WWII finished over 75 years ago, and the Cold War more than 30. With this idea and your belief that German supermarkets are a hub of Covonazi Apartheid, I can only believe you're on drugs.

A neutral country? What are you dribbling on about. WWII finished over 75 years ago, and the Cold War more than 30. With this idea and your belief that German supermarkets are a hub of Covonazi Apartheid, I can only believe you're on drugs.

It's still not part of the EU or NATO.  

And I'm not on drugs, unless your consider the Peruvian coffee beans I purchase from Aldi and brew and imbibe each morning are.

China? What a ridiculous comment. They only won one gold last time. They will certainly do a bit better this time, home town advantage and all. But they'll be will behind the Scandinavian duo, Germany, Austria, Swiss, Canada and a few others. These European nations take this seriously, it's much more important to them than the summer event, which they approach more as high school sports carnia.

I think the comment may have been in jest.......

China? What a ridiculous comment. They only won one gold last time. They will certainly do a bit better this time, home town advantage and all. But they'll be will behind the Scandinavian duo, Germany, Austria, Swiss, Canada and a few others. These European nations take this seriously, it's much more important to them than the summer event, which they approach more as high school sports carnia.

It wasn’t a statement on performance, it was a statement on likely attendance.

I really enjoy the winter Olympics, more than the summer ones, with all of its pretend sports. There should be some great competition in the biathlons this year. I suspect there'll be some suspicious performance from the hosts, but the Norwegians or Germans will top the table.

I thought the Norwegians were serious about human rights?  Obviously not if they turn up.

Norwegians?

Left leaning, socialist namby pamby, pseudo commies.

Anyone who reads The Daily Mail would know that

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the Australian athletes who chose to attend did so under the Olympic flag, not Australian flag.  I wonder if they'll do that in 2022?

At the time, Jimmy Carter even proposed that the Summer Olympics be permanently held in Greece every 4 years.  Maybe the Swiss could hold the Winter Games each time due to their neutrality and location?

You do realise that this is only a diplomatic boycott and not a full boycott like 1980 and 1984? This is that the diplomats won't be on the gravy train and waving the flag at our athletes. Frankly, this is a good call seeing that there is no public communication between our governments. No doubt played out behind closed doors that we are naughty and in the social media that we are naughty.

Athletes including USA, will attend representing their own countries. No need to go under the Olympic flag, as they will enter for their own countries and results, records and medals will be for their nations.

If anything it should be extended as normal policy and codified in law. Make it a criminal offence for any incumbent MP/Senator to be present within a radius of 1000 metres of any event of the Olympic Games (summer or winter) or another sporting competition which counts towards Olympic qualification.

Only exception - if they are actually competing

I thought the Norwegians were serious about human rights?  Obviously not if they turn up.

Well, don't just stop there; tell us which nations are OK on human rights (from your right wing perspective, of course.)

Boy I'm sure all the nations boycotting care about human rights.

They certainly do, although their definition of freedom is somewhat overblown.

I have noticed that, unlike build ups to other olympic games, this year there has been pretty much;
no medal show off.
no photo shoot with the huge boarding passes.
no sneak peak at the competition arenas.
no tour of the athletes village.
no athlete background stories.
...on FTA TV.

I have noticed that, unlike build ups to other olympic games, this year there has been pretty much;
no medal show off.
no photo shoot with the huge boarding passes.
no sneak peak at the competition arenas.
no tour of the athletes village.
no athlete background stories.
...on FTA TV.

I must watch then!

Its almost back in the 80's for Olympic coverage with out the fill. I hope they show events without Aussies in it, so we can get some relativity and balance, like they use to. That should be easier with an winter event.

Sadly, enough Australians seem to qualify for mostly judge-based events (moguls, halfpipe etc) that the coverage of the proper Winter Olympic sports (alpine, cross country, speed skating etc) is often quite poor.

I wonder if Seven have opted to save a few bucks by getting a restricted TV rights deal that puts a cap on the amount of live vision they are permitted to show of events which don’t feature Australian competitors?

I hope they show events without Aussies in it, so we can get some relativity and balance, like they use to. That should be easier with an winter event.

Now, now; you're forgetting our unique culture - the following commentary terms apply.

We. Reference by commentators to Straya; a Southern Hemisphere nation girt by sea.
Major Event. Has at least one Strayan in it.
The One We’ve All Been Waiting For. There’s a Strayan in it who’s considered some chance of winning.
In Other Olympic Action Today. Fleeting summary, sans footage, of events with no Strayans in them.
Medal Glory. Bronze to Straya.
Dazzling Performance. Silver to Straya. . . see also “Cruelly Denied.”
Historic Triumph. Gold to Straya.
Off to the Equestrian Venue. Television Industry euphemism for an entire nation asleep in their armchairs.
Spectacular Pageantry. Official euphemism for Opening Ceremony, an event consisting of hours of athletes and fat officials walking in circles wearing bizarre outfits, occasionally interrupted by fireworks and people dancing in only slightly less bizarre outfits.
Olympic Oath. Declaration at opening ceremony, apparently written by someone who hasn’t seen an Olympics in 60 years.
Olympic Village. Elaborate, expensive architectural installation built to house athletes, faulty plumbing and hundreds of thousands of condoms, prior to immediately reverting to abandoned wasteland or slum at conclusion of event.
Gymnastics. Somersaults.
Synchronised Swimming. Water somersaults.
Diving. Somersaults conducted in air prior to entering water.
Water Polo. Sport which if, strangely, were conducted on land, would be handball rather than polo and would also be more interesting, more violent, and more interestingly violent.
PB. (1) Peanut Butter. (2) “Personal Best”, something seemingly recorded by every second person at the Olympics outside of the ice cream vendors and timekeepers; specifically a term often utilised by TV to describe Strayans who have avoided Medal Glory.
The Fifth Major. Term used in desperation by commentators at tennis and golf to camouflage the fact that these two sports are included in the program as a result of a clerical error.
Hockey. Sport of immense importance every four years when Strayans can win Olympic medals at it.
Medal Tally. How you can tell which country won the Olympics.
Strayan Medal Tally. Figures which, adjusted for population, sporting values and shining inner qualities, denote which country really won the Olympics.