IOC Executive Board press conference amid US diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022

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Ruptly is live from Lausanne as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board will meet remotely to discuss matters surrounding the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics via videoconference before holding a press conference with the media on Tuesday, December 7.

On Monday, the US government announced it wouldn’t be sending its diplomats to the event, joining multiple figures that have called for a boycott of the Beijing Games over allegations of human rights abuses by China. On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the country would take “resolute countermeasures” against the USA in response to the boycott.

Calls for boycotts have increased due to the accusations regarding former world number one women’s doubles tennis player Peng Shuai, who disappeared after posting a long essay accusing former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. The account used for the accusation was censored and Shuai went missing for some time after the incident leading to international condemnation.

More calls for a boycott have rung out over China’s actions in Tibet, the accusations related to Uyghurs in northwest China, as well as the difficulties between the governments of the US, UK, Australia and the Beijing organising committees.

Ahead of the press conference, Tuesday’s meeting is expected to consist of an opening welcome by the IOC President before reports on the Beijing Winter Games, reports from the athletes and even an anti-doping report among other topics.

The Beijing Winter Olympics are expected to take place between Friday, February 4 and Sunday, February 20, 2022. Mandatory credit to: International Olympic Committee (IOC)