COPENHAGEN, KOMPAS.com – Denmark said on Friday (14/1/2022) that it would not send an official representative to the Beijing 2022 Olympics because of human rights concerns in China.
“The government has decided that we will not take part in the Winter Olympics in China. It is no secret that we, in Denmark, are very concerned about the human rights situation in China,” Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod was quoted as saying by the News Agency. AFP, Saturday (15/1/2022).
Also read: Beijing Olympics, Japan Doesn’t Send Government Officials Amid the Diplomatic Boycott of 4 Countries
However, Denmark will continue to send a contingent of athletes to compete in the Winter Olympics, which are scheduled to start in February 2022.
“They (athletes) can count on total support from the government. We will cheer them on as we always do, but from home, not from the stands in Beijing,” Kofod added.
If summed up, it now means that there are five countries that have announced the decision of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Four countries, namely the United States (US), Canada, Australia, and Britain have already announced a diplomatic boycott of the sporting event.
Human rights advocacy groups have supported the US-led effort.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) China Director Sophie Richardson called it an important step to challenge the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Turkish communities.
Read also: French President: Beijing Olympics Diplomatic Boycott Only Symbolic
Get updates news of choice and breaking news every day from Kompas.com. Let’s join the Telegram group “Kompas.com News Update”, how to click the link https://t.me/kompascomupdate, then join. You must first install the Telegram application on your cellphone.
.
