New Delhi, December 11, : .The Pakistani foreign ministry has condemned the US-led diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics Beijing in February 2019.It called on Pakistan to keep politics out of sport, Dawn reported.
“Pakistan opposes any form of politicisation of sports and hopes that all nations would come together in Beijing and afford their athletes the opportunity to compete against the best and showcase their skills,” foreign office spokesman Asim Iftikhar said at a weekly media briefing.
He was commenting on reports that the US, Canada, the UK and Australia would not send their officials to Beijing in protest against the host country’s alleged human rights violations as well as crackdown in Hong Kong.These countries would, however, not stop their athletes from participating in the Games.
China strongly reacted to the announcements of a boycott.Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry warned against “resolute countermeasures”, without naming specific actions.
He also claimed that the US violated the principle of political neutrality in sports.
Iftikhar also wished China success in hosting Beijing Olympics.
“We are confident that despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19, the Beijing Winter Olympics would offer a spectacular and colourful gala to sports enthusiasts around the world, including in Pakistan,” he said, the report said.
Pakistani criticisms of the boycott closely follow its decision to not attend the US’ ‘Summit for Democracy.
Many believed Pakistan decided to skip the event because China had not been invited, while Taiwan was on the guest list.
This impression was further strengthened when Zhao Lijian, in a Twitter posting, hailed Pakistan’s decision to stay out by saying: “A real iron brother.”
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