Austrian Chancellor: "No High-Level Visits to Beijing Olympics... Due to COVID-19"

"Diplomatic Boycott Is Not the Case...Opposing Politicization of the Olympics"
Seemingly Proposing a Compromise Amid US-China Olympic Boycott Dispute

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Austrian Chancellor announced that no high-ranking political officials will visit the Beijing Winter Olympics. However, he clarified that this decision is not due to the diplomatic boycott declared by the United States and its major allies, but rather concerns over the COVID-19 situation. This is interpreted as a compromise amid the sharp confrontation over the Olympic boycott issue between the US and China.

On the 14th (local time), Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated in an interview with the German daily Die Welt, "There are no plans for high-ranking officials to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics held next February," adding, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, politicians cannot personally meet their country's athletes in China. I prefer to meet our athletes individually in Vienna."

However, he emphasized that Austria is not joining the US-led diplomatic boycott. Chancellor Nehammer explained, "It is because of COVID-19 prevention measures that we cannot visit, and it is by no means a diplomatic boycott," adding, "We oppose the politicization of the Olympics."

Earlier, on the 6th, the US Biden administration declared a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics citing China's human rights abuses as the reason. Major allies such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have also announced their participation. Within the European Union (EU), a joint stance on the diplomatic boycott is being coordinated, but it is known that there are significant disagreements among member states.

Meanwhile, a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics means sending athletes to the Games but not dispatching delegations composed of government or high-ranking political officials, thereby sending a political message to the host country. Since the official boycott declarations by the US and its major allies, governments around the world are reportedly deeply considering whether to join the boycott.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.