Canada Should Not Participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics

[Manhattanboy]

China is a bad actor and needs to be held accountable for several actions including:

1. the two year ongoing unlawful detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor

2. the imposition of effective martial law in Hong Kong

3. the deliberate cover-up of the origins and initial consequences of COVID-19

4. abuses of human rights including treatment of the Uyghurs in the NW region of China

There have been calls for the relocation of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

I would feel bad for the athletes but unless the games are moved the Liberal government should publicly state that Canada is reconsidering participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

[GGG]

Ignoring China for a moment I think there is a question of what are the Olympics and what should the Olympics be.

Are the Olympics a celebration of sport at its highest level or are they a political event. I’d prefer the Olympics be a celebration of sport where individual athlete tea get to decide if they wish to protest or not.

It seems cowardly to use the Olympics as a sanction on China as opposed to say actual economic sanctions.

[blankall]

I always have mixed feelings on these Olympic/sport boycotts. The whole purpose is to open lines of communication and create cultural exchange between nations, especially ones that you might otherwise see as enemies. The Olympics is also more about the populations and the athletes than the governments. If anything banning the Olympics only further helps the Chinese government in their goal of cutting off lines of communication by their citizens with the outside world.

I'd much rather see extreme action taken against China in the form of economic sanctions. I've never really felt that international sporting events are the proper forum to express international discontent.

[Manhattanboy]

The Olympics have always been and will continue to be political, and often times used as a significant propaganda vehicle by the host nation.

Really how in good conscience can we send our athletes, coaches, media, delegations etc. to China while our citizens continue to rot in Chinese prisons?

EDIT: I would not be surprised if China released the two Michaels prior to the games for these very reasons.

[undercoverbrother]

While I don't disagree, it is fairly hollow.

In 2008 China was a horrible human rights abuser as well.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by blankall

I'd much rather see extreme action taken against China in the form of economic sanctions.

That's just it. China is what it is today due in large part to decades of us importing cheap goods from its sweatshops.

For any huge, impactful message to be sent to China, the western world will have to make some difficult decisions regarding its lifestyle choices.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

While I don't disagree, it is fairly hollow.

In 2008 China was a horrible human rights abuser as well.

Yeah, this is my stance. It's a symbolic gesture that really has zero impact other than taking the opportunity away from athletes who have been training for this, and (selfishly) taking away the opportunity for Canadians to root for our athletes in the Olympics.

I totally understand the reasoning for it, but most of the negatives from it fall on Canadians.

[troutman]

https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showth...ympics+boycott

[Manhattanboy]

Another thing to consider is that unlike the summer Olympics, Canada sends a huge delegation to and is a significant participant in the winter games.

Canada's absence (including the absence of our NHL players and women's hockey team) would essentially wreck the Chinese Olympics.

[FlamesAddiction]

The Olympics are made political by the countries that host them. China is using them, as other countries do, to boost their public image. That's the main reason why they put in bids to host.

But if Canada was the only country boycotting, there would be no point.

I am not a big fan of the Olympics being held in one place. They should spit it up into event categories and spread them over a few countries. If it's just about the competition, it shouldn't matter.

[nik-]

"Think about the athletes" is such a lame stance. We should probably think about the people in internment camps. Is Canada not going to the Olympics going to stop what's happening? No, but we don't have to be party to their propaganda festival.

The sadness of athletes is pretty far down the list of what's important.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

"Think about the athletes" is such a lame stance. We should probably think about the people in internment camps. Is Canada not going to the Olympics going to stop what's happening? No, but we don't have to be party to their propaganda festival.

The sadness of athletes is pretty far down the list of what's important.

Listen I don't disagree, and this isn't aimed at you, but where does it end?

Russia was a human rights #### hole in 2014, yet we went.

I don't know the answer to be honest.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Listen I don't disagree, and this isn't aimed at you, but where does it end?

Russia was a human rights #### hole in 2014, yet we went.

I don't know the answer to be honest.

I don't know where it ends, but it should probably start at genocide.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by nik-

"Think about the athletes" is such a lame stance. We should probably think about the people in internment camps. Is Canada not going to the Olympics going to stop what's happening? No, but we don't have to be party to their propaganda festival.

This is at least half of what the Olympics are for the host country.

Edit:... I’m agreeing with you.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

This is at least half of what the Olympics are for the host country.

Yes.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't know where it ends, but it should probably start at genocide. You just went basically "think about the children" directly into "slippery slope".

No, I asked where the line is, as in, what is the acceptable limit of human rights abuses?

Russia in 2014 & China in 2008 were both horrible human rights abusers. Both countries have been horrible ####holes for years.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

No, I asked where the line is, as in, what is the acceptable limit of human rights abuses?

Russia in 2014 & China in 2008 were both horrible human rights abusers. Both countries have been horrible ####holes for years.

So, let’s smarten up now.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

No, I asked where the line is, as in, what is the acceptable limit of human rights abuses?

Russia in 2014 & China in 2008 were both horrible human rights abusers. Both countries have been horrible ####holes for years.

And I said I don't know, but genocide is a good place to start. Can we all agree on genocide? That. That's the line for now.

We didn't act before so why act now is not a good method to go through life. We also know more now than we did in 2008.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

And I said I don't know, but genocide is a good place to start. Can we all agree on genocide? That. That's the line for now.

We didn't act before so why act now is not a good method to go through life. We also know more now than we did in 2008.

Wait you don't believe the West didn't know about what has happening in China in 2008?

Listen I am all for a line in the sand, a cutting or reducing of ties with China and other despots.

But I honestly believe that is the two Michaels weren't in jail in China this wouldn't be a hot topic.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Wait you don't believe the West didn't know about what has happening in China in 2008?

Listen I am all for a line in the sand, a cutting or reducing of ties with China and other despots.

But I honestly believe that is the two Michaels weren't in jail in China this wouldn't be a hot topic.

I said we know more. Even if we knew then everything we know today, not acting when you should have before doesn't preclude you acting in the future.