TAYLOR KNIGHT:
LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. THE U.S. IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING IF IT WILL SEND A DELEGATION TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING.
IT’S CALLED A DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT – SO WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY MEAN AND WILL IT IMPACT HOW YOU VIEW THE GAMES?
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN:
AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MET WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING, PRESSURE HAS BEEN MOUNTING FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION TO BOYCOTT THE EVENT – CITING HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.
IT WOULD MEAN THE U.S. WOULD BE A NO SHOW FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY – BUT ONLY ITS DIPLOMATS.
EXPERTS ARGUE OLYMPIC PROTESTS AREN’T ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE. FOR EXAMPLE TWO PROMINENT BOYCOTTS THE 1936 BERLIN SUMMER GAMES
AND THE 1980 MOSCOW SUMMER GAMES DID LITTLE TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF STATE POLICY.
U.S ATHLETES WILL STILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, AND SO FAR SPONSORS LIKE COCA-COLA AND AIRBNB HAVE INDICATED THEY DON’T PLAN ON PULLING OUT.
THE BEIJING GAMES OPEN FEBRUARY FOURTH.
DO YOU THINK THE US SHOULD BOYCOTT THE GAMES?
LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.