China has expressed its desire to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in preventing the politicization of sports. This was conveyed by China’s Premier Li Keqiang during a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach in Beijing last weekend, according to state news agency Xinhua.
In 2022, China will host the Winter Olympics, which were boycotted last year due to concerns about human rights issues in China. At the time, China dismissed the boycott as a “political stance” and a slanderous attempt.
Li believes that China has a critical role to play in preserving world peace and advancing mutual development. He also stated that the IOC is willing to enhance cooperation with China to foster the Olympic movement’s growth.
During matches in the past, the national anthem of Hong Kong substituted protest songs relating to the 2019 anti-government demonstrations, leading to rebukes from government officials. In February this year, this happened during a game between Hong Kong and Iran at the World Ice Hockey Championships in Bosnia. Similarly, a protest song was played at an Asian Rugby Seven Series tournament match between Hong Kong and South Korea in Incheon the previous November.
Farah Master reported on this, and Lincoln Feast edited it. Thomson Reuters Trust Principles are adhered to by this content.