Liam Davis
@Liam.Davis · Updated 06 Dec. 2021

The United States Olympic Committee has announced that they are to withdraw all planned US athletes from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics due to the potential danger of air quality. This comes after an outcry from many US athletes, who have spoken out about their unwillingness to compete because of the terrible air pollution levels in Beijing. The USOC said, "current weather projections for Beijing in early 2022 now include conditions that are unacceptable for our members to safely participate."The big question is now whether or not other countries will follow suit and boycott the games too. Why is it important? The United States' decision could have a huge impact on how other countries approach competing at the games. If more countries pull out, it could lead to a diplomatic boycott which would be hugely damaging to Beijing’s efforts. There are all kinds of reasons why the US would boycott the Beijing Olympics. For one, they wouldn’t want to be part of any event that is hosted in China because they believe that China is an authoritarian nation. The US also believes that any event hosted in China would not be fair and open to all athletes. As a result, the US is expected to join in the 'diplomatic' boycott of the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics.

Kelly Jackson
@Kelly.Jackson · Updated 06 Dec. 2021

There are many reasons for this diplomatic boycott. China has become more assertive in terms of military power. The country has been building up its weaponry and has been interfering with the affairs of other countries. China is also an economic competitor of the US. It’s catching up to the US in many aspects, which is why they are becoming more powerful in international affairs. Lastly, China has been expanding its territory by building islands and furthering its claims on resource-rich areas of the South China Sea.

Peter Clark
@Peter.Clark · Posted 06 Dec. 2021

The US is going to join in the 'diplomatic' boycott of the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics. This is a result of the increased pressure that the US has been exerting on China. It is a way for the Trump administration to exert pressure on China and make it honor its commitments, including trade agreements and North Korea's denuclearization. The boycott, which will begin with a refusal by members of Congress to attend the opening ceremonies, reflects how relations between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated during Donald Trump's presidency, which includes tariffs on Chinese imports and a bitter trade war.