February 8, 2022—As Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 commenced on February 4 in China, more than 240 non-governmental organizations from around the world joined hands to demand answers from the corporate sponsors of the games.
“It’s not possible for the Olympic Games to be a ‘force for good,’ as the International Olympic Committee claims, while the host government is committing grave crimes in violation of international law,” said Sophie Richardson, a director at Human Rights Watch, in a news release.
According to the HRW, human rights advocates have documented scores of abuses by China since the Olympic committee selected Beijing for the 2022 Winter Games. These include:
- Arbitrary detention, torture, and forced labor of millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic groups in Xinjiang as well as of human rights defenders;
- Restrictions against independent media; and
- Prosecution of peaceful conduct, including free expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
Calls for Actions
The groups demanding action include the Corporate Accountability Lab,the Consortium for Intersectional Justice, Dutch Uyghur Human Rights Foundation, the East Turkestan Press and Media Association, Emgage Action, the Equality League, Freedom House, Global Athlete, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Human Rights Foundation, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the National Clergy Council, the Peace Catalyst International, and the Religious Freedom Institute.
They are asking corporate sponsors to publicly respond to criticism that their sponsorship contributes to human rights violations by China. They wrote to the companies last May asking for responses.
Corporate Sponsors
Top corporate sponsors of the Winter Games which include Airbnb, Alibaba, Allianz, Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Intel and , Omega, Panasonic, P&G, Samsung, Toyota, and Visa. They have invested millions in the Olympic games.
On Friday, HRW said corporate sponsors had not provided meaning responses to their concerns or “disclosed their human rights due diligence strategies.”
Diplomatic Boycott
Several governments, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are not sending diplomats to the game as a boycott.
The HRW is urging other governments to join the diplomatic boycott of the Games and urged athletes and sponsors to not legitimize government abuses.
In December 2021, the Biden administration announced a diplomatic boycott on the games to protest against China’s alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, in the northwest of China. The other countries joined the boycott.
China Warns Athletes
Ahead of the Games, the Chinese Communist Party warned athletes against speaking out on human rights issues in China.
Any behavior or speech that is against the Olympic spirit – especially against the Chinese laws and regulations – are also subject to certain punishment”, warned Yang Shu, deputy director-general of the Beijing Organizing Committee.
As the Washington Post noted, that warning falls in line with a similar one the IOC issued ahead of the Summer Olympics in Japan. The IOC Charter’s Rule 50 charter forbids “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda.” China’s rule adds speech to that which is barred.
US Politician Warns Against ‘Ruthless’ Government
Late last week U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi advised athletes not to speak out against the Chinese government.
“Now the IOC, aided by corporate sponsors, once again turns a blind eye with the 2022 Winter Olympics just to bolster their bottom line,” Pelosi said. She indicated that politicians should speak out, but athletes competing in the games should stay quiet. “Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless.”
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