It Is Wrong to Weaponize the Olympics

In early 2022, the Winter Olympics will commence in Beijing. Being one of the most prestigious events in the world of sport, hosting the Olympics is always a source of pride and esteem for the venue country. Indeed, Beijing previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008, a moment that encapsulated the rise and progress of China anew. The city stands to be the first in history to have hosted both the summer and winter events.

But not everyone is happy. Some countries want to try and use the event to advance their geopolitical ends against China. As a result, it has been widely reported that politicians in some Western countries are contemplating a potential “diplomatic boycott” of the event by refusing to send any government representatives.

This is as petty as it is inconsequential, yet it is bound to be hyped up by the mainstream media regardless. No country “owns” the Olympics, and it is wrong to weaponize the event to peddle ideological and geopolitical agendas.

The Olympics is widely heralded precisely because it is an event that captures the theme and story of humanity most aptly, which no other event can claim. If one travels to Greece, one may visit the ancient and restored Olympic Stadium, a venue where this great tradition began. The Olympic tradition evolved as an expression of values, and with the added background of time, history, and heritage.

The “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing Winter Olympics by some Western politicians is hijacking the Olympic spirit with their prejudice and ignorance. The goal behind such claims is not fueled by sincere or humanitarian concern, but in the pursuit of values and approaches that are inconsistent with the idea of sportsmanship and to the detriment of humanity as a whole.

By doing so, they are destroying the unity and harmony of all humanity, as well as the instruments of peace, cooperation, and well-being expressed by the Olympics. This is against the Olympic spirit – a competition that ought to transcend ideology and politics.

These Western politicians are making a move that is at best symbolic, and have shown their unwillingness to stand by their so-called values to the point whereby they would impose a personal cost upon themselves.

Despite such a scenario, many countries around the world will continue to pride themselves on their participation in what continues to be a globally revered event.

In the end, this small clique of politicians will only embarrass themselves in showing such “poor sportsmanship.”