The Olympics are highly anticipated all over the world and have always been an event that has the capabilities to bring together all types of people and principles. This winter, the games are taking place in Beijing, China, a location that currently has ongoing genocide against Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in Xinjiang, China. Hosting the Olympics is typically seen as an honor, so having a country that is currently involved in inhumane acts does not seem very well-deserved. 

No U.S. government officials are attending the games as they are taking part in a diplomatic boycott against China alongside the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. As all these countries’ athletes are still participating, this is a way to make a statement while still supporting the games as a whole. 

“There is unquestionably more controversy and complications around these games than any in our lifetimes,” said Savannah Guthrie during the Olympic Opening Ceremony in an interview with the Washington Post. 

Suspicion of genocide first arose when the sudden rapid growth of concentration camps in Xinjiang, China began to appear. Not only have these camps been accused of genocide by other countries and Human Rights groups, they have also been accused of forced labor, forced sterilization, torture and sexual abuse. 

“China denies all allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, claiming its system of ‘re-education’ camps are there to combat separatism and Islamist militancy in the region,” according to BBC News. 

The fact that the IOC even granted the Olympics to Beijing in the first place came as a surprise to many. Even with the accusations being denied, the evidence given adds up to barbaric acts and harm towards the people at the camps. China has been rumored of keeping surveillance of the athletes and placing government threats to penalize anyone who speaks out about what is going on in China during the games. 

“In conversations with the BBC over the past few weeks, 22 people who have left Xinjiang to live abroad described a pattern of threats, harassment and public character attacks they said were designed to deter them from speaking out about alleged human rights abuses back home,” said Joel Gunter at BBC News.

With all of the negative attention China is receiving, the Olympics may have seemed like an ideal option to cover up all of the bad media and gain some positive attention through the fun of the games. With that being said, they have not been successful because of all of the people who have decided to stand up for everyone being affected and suffering.