Since the Biden administration announced it will not send an official US delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, some other western countries followed this initiative thereafter. The thorny issue of the “diplomatic boycott” has aroused global concern. A host of prominent figures condemned the boycott of the 24th Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and urged for respect to the principles and values of sports and the Olympic Games rencently.
David Monyae, Director of Centre for China Africa Studies in University of Johanesburg,said that “after the tragedy of having to cancel three editions of the Summer Olympic Games during the two world wars and two boycotts in the Cold War, it is now unacceptable that the situation is repeated with the announcement of the cancellation of diplomatic delegations to the next Winter Games in Beijing 2022. In this regard, the Italian National Fair Play Committee (INFPC), in line with the National Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee, urge institutions and governments to be respectful of the Olympic spirit and remain absolutely independent of political and other influences. The pretext of interventions using the media spotlight of the Games, with the same tools for purposes that have nothing to do with the universal sharing of the pax olimpica. Moreover, in a difficult time for the health of humanity and the planet, this must be stigmatized and rejected.
“At a time when maximum cohesion is needed to face the ethical transition of the community, through sports that promote integration and inclusion, it is unthinkable that we indulge in feelings and actions that go in the opposite direction. Therefore, the INFPC invites the Congress of the European Fair Play Movement to evaluate the situation and to express itself according to its role as guarantor of the principles of autonomy, which inspire sports and Olympism,” David said.
David is Co-director of CIUJ, and he also designed and launched the DBSA’s Policy Briefs and Working Papers and represented the Bank on major infrastructure projects in Africa. He also formed part of the South African academic delegations at meetings of the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum in 2010 and the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summits in Beijing in 2011, New Delhi in 2012, and Durban in 2013. For nine years prior to that, he lectured on South African foreign policy and African international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand. He has published widely and is a respected political analyst, featuring in the national and international media.
