Olympia - Barabock: Don't use the Olympics for "political things"

BERLIN (DPA) – Foreign Minister Annalena Barbock has spoken out in relation to a political boycott against using the Olympic Games for “political things or celebrations”.

The Olympic Games “is a festival of sport, because athletes prepare for it for years, sometimes half a life, and that’s why it should not be used for political things or celebrations,” said the Green politician on the ZDF “Today Journal” . This is even more true in the midst of a pandemic.

China has been criticized for human rights violations in its dealings with Uighurs and Tibetans, suppressing the democracy movement in Hong Kong, and threats against Taiwan. The US announced earlier this week that it would not send diplomatic or official representatives to the Olympic Games in China in early 2022. Australia, Canada and the UK followed suit. New Zealand also does not want to send diplomatic representatives to China.

Bairbock is currently in Brussels, where she will attend the first EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday. “We have made it clear time and again how we view the human rights situation in China at this point in time, in light of the events that have happened in recent days – even with respect to athletes,” Barbock said. “On this basis, we will discuss it tomorrow with our European colleagues here in Brussels.”