Question: According to media reports, the UK side indicated today that there were no plans for ministers or officials to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics, and that “this would effectively be diplomatic boycott”. But they also said that the policy of the British government remains not to support “sporting boycotts”. What is your comment?

Spokesperson: What I can confirm is that the Chinese government has not invited government ministers or officials from the UK to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics. 

If the UK government’s policy remains not to support “sporting boycotts”, then there should not be such thing as “effective diplomatic boycott”. 

The Beijing Winter Olympics is a gathering of Olympic athletes and winter sports lovers across the world, not a tool of political manipulation for any country. Making an issue out of the presence of government officials at the Beijing Winter Olympics is in essence a political smearing campaign. This sheer politicization of sports is a blatant violation of the spirit of the Olympic Charter, especially the principle of “political neutrality” of sports, and runs counter to the new Olympic motto of “together”. It is a wrong move that places one on the opposite side of the Olympic movement and the athletes from all over the world. It will surely meet condemnation from the international community and the vast number of athletes.

The preparation for the Beijing Winter Games has entered the home stretch. Athletes from all over the world are eagerly looking forward to coming to China for the Games. We urge the UK government to uphold the Olympic spirit, honour its commitment of not boycotting sports and stop political manipulation.