Taking place between 4 February and 20 February in Beijing, , for instance against the Chinese Uyghur community. Some countries have pulled out of the event, earning accusations of political posturing from the Middle Kingdom. The Chinese Republic has also vowed countermeasures. Unlike the UK, Canada and Australia, the European Union and Luxembourg have not boycotted the event.
The new minister for sports, Engel, who was sworn in , in an answer to a , explained that he would not be attending the event. This was not a political decision, however, but a practical one.
Also bearing responsibility for the office for labour, Engel intends to, “focus on his new missions,” adding in his answer that, “generally, sports and politics should remain separate--the necessary questions should be asked ahead of taking a decision concerning the location of a large sports event.”
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Calls to boycott
, several European countries have announced their diplomatic boycott, meaning they will not send representation. This, explains the news site, would hurt the pride of host countries like China, which mixes political motives into their large events. Lithuania, Belgium, Denmark, Japan and New Zealand will not be sending diplomatic representatives to accompany their athletes.
, Tibetan activist Dhondup Wangchen expressed his disappointment at Luxembourg’s position. Following a meeting among EU foreign affairs ministers on 14 December, Luxembourg’s foreign affairs minister Jean Asselborn (LSAP) stated that a boycott would only be symbolic and ineffective.
Wangchen had recounted his ordeal, which started after he filmed a 25-minute documentary showing people from Tibet talk about the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and life under an oppressive regime. Six months following its publication he was tortured and imprisoned for six years in inhumane conditions.
He is now on a whistle-stop tour across Europe to call for a boycott of the upcoming Winter Games in Beijing, though the EU has decided not to withdraw from the event.
Asked by CSV deputy Nancy Arendt-Kemp which position the sports minister would represent in Brussels, Engel responded that the next meeting between EU sports ministers would take place in April, and thus long after the Olympic winter games.