Beijing Olympics is happening soon. But, did you wonder how Beijing is hosting the games again? After all, they recently had the chance to host the Summer Games in 2008. Read to know how Beijing will soon become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games.
Here’s how Beijing is hosting the games again
In about two months’ time, the Beijing Winter Olympics will start. But, how did the city get the chance to host the games so soon after its previous chance? Beijing is set to become the first city in Olympic history to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. The answer to the question is very simple. As many as six European cities dropped out of bidding for the Games in 2014. The move was following the huge doping scandal in the Sochi Games in 2014. Additionally, the huge $51 billion price tag associated with the Sochi Olympics scared away potential hosts.
Hence when it was time for the final vote in 2015 in the Kaula Lumpur meetings, only two nations were ready for the challenge. So, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was left with two potential candidates- Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Beijing. Beijing won with a close 44-40 vote. Some suggest that the close voting results were marred by irregularities. However, Thomas Bach, the IOC president denied the suggestions. “The number of candidates for winter is already very limited by geography. Also, we can’t forget that this is a challenging time with regard to the world economy,” explained Bach. In an interview in 2014, Bach stated that the Winter Olympics are always a tough sell.
Beijing Olympics and the boycotting
However, the Beijing Olympics are a target for a diplomatic boycott by the US. It is also likely that several nations will follow suit. President Biden announced that the United States will be boycotting the games for protesting human rights abuse in the nation. “The US diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang, and we simply can’t do that,” stated Jen Psaki. Psaki is the White House press secretary. China in turn vowed to greet it with “firm countermeasures”.
“We have a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights. And we feel strongly in our position and we will continue to take actions to advance human rights in China and beyond,” added Psaki. She also stated that American athletes will continue to compete and be supported by the US. However, the US “will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games”.