BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- History has revealed that sports promote politics, whereas politics could ruin sports. This is exactly why the Olympic Charter explicitly stipulates that sports organizations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality, and opposes any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes.

 

However, the United States has gone to great lengths to exert pressure on China by using the Beijing Winter Olympics as a political tool. The U.S. administration has announced that it would not send an official delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing.

 

Many still remember that at the Rome Summit of the Group of 20, together with other 19 world leaders, U.S. President Joe Biden vowed that "we look ahead to Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2022, as opportunities for competition for athletes from around the world, which serves as a symbol of humanity's resilience."

 

 

Flip-flopping in U.S. politics is being laid bare for all to see.

 

Instead of upholding the Olympic values of friendship and respect, U.S. politicians have capitalized on Beijing Winter Olympics to set off another misinformation campaign against China.

 

This is not the first time that the United States has mixed politics with sports. When Beijing held the Summer Olympic Games in 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged the George W. Bush administration to boycott the opening ceremony of the Games under the pretext of the so-called "oppression in Tibet." Fourteen years have passed, and now Pelosi is playing her same old trick again, with the excuse being switched from Tibet to Xinjiang.

 

U.S. politicians treat the Games really like a game.

 

From COVID-19 to the Olympic Games, from science to sports, U.S. politicians have proved remarkably adroit and skilled at getting almost everything politicized.

 

As China has not requested the presence of any U.S. officials or diplomatic representatives, what is the point of rejecting an invitation that has never been extended? Is the United States still indulged in the illusion that no international events can be successfully held without its diplomatic presence?

 

 

In 2008, despite some noises of boycott and the bad-mouthing of China-bashers, Beijing presented the world a spectacular sports event that won China applause. Fourteen years later, with more experience and support from sports lovers across the globe, the Chinese have every reason to believe that Beijing Winter Olympics will be another grand event for all, no matter whether the United States sends official representatives or not.

 

Wielding sports as a political weapon violates the Olympic Charter, especially the principle of "political neutrality of sports," and undermines global solidarity. U.S. politicians are pushing their anti-China agenda by hook or by crook.

 

The U.S. leadership has stressed on many occasions that it seeks to establish "common-sense guardrails" for this most important bilateral relationship, yet "common sense" and "guardrails" are just what the United States desperately needs to prevent itself from tainting the sacred Olympic flame.

 

"Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked." This witty remark of Warren Buffett's makes good sense. When Beijing wins the attention and compliments from the whole world again early next year, who will find themselves embarrassed and more isolated, we will find out soon.

 

(The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News Agency, CGTN, Global Times, China Daily, etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com)■

by Xin Ping