BERLIN (AP) – Human Rights Watch has called for the resignation of IOC officials surrounding German President Thomas Bach.

Wenzel Michalski, director of Human Rights Watch, said: “If the economy is already calling on businessmen in Xinjiang to condemn human rights violations, it should be clear to Mr Bach and others at the latest that their time has come. Has gone.” Germany, Deutschlandfunk. Four weeks before the start of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, he insisted: “And he must resign and leave the field to a new generation of human rights-conscious officials.”

The power of sports federations, such as the International Olympic Committee or the world football federation FIFA, “should really be broken now, because they have shown that they are simply acting irresponsibly and greedily,” Michalski said.

China has also been criticized for human rights violations in its dealings with Uighurs and Tibetans, suppressing the democracy movement in Hong Kong, and threats against Taiwan.

On the other hand, IOC chief Bach spoke of great international support, despite the recent planned diplomatic boycott of the Olympic Games in some countries. “The international community’s support for these Winter Olympics is clear and welcome,” Bach said in his New Year’s address. The United States, Australia, Great Britain and Canada announced that they would not send politicians to the Games from 4 February to 20 February. Recently, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock and Interior Minister Nancy Fesser announced that they would not travel to Beijing for the Games.

Bach also emphasized the political neutrality of the IOC. “The Olympic Games are above any conflict,” he said, referring to the UN resolution declaring an Olympic ceasefire. This shows that the mission of connecting the world can be successful only if Olympia is beyond all political controversy.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 220103-99-571854/3