View source for Concerns and controversies at the 2022 Winter Olympics

{{Short description|Overview of concerns and controversies surrounding the Games}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{2022 Winter Olympics}}
{{Main|2022 Winter Olympics}}
The [[2022 Winter Olympics]] took place between the 4 and 20 February 2022 and were hosted by in China in the capital city of Beijing. The country selected was the subject of various concerns and controversies about their [[Cost of the Olympic Games|cost]], [[Environmental issues|environmental impact]], [[Censorship in China|censorship]], [[Chinese intelligence activity abroad|espionage]], [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]], [[sportswashing]], and [[Human rights in China|human rights issues]].

There have been [[diplomatic boycott]]s of the Olympics largely due to the human rights situation in China, and the [[Uyghur genocide]] in particular.<ref name="CNN20211206"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/12/24/national/japan-olympics-boycotts/#:~:text=Japan%20sought%20to%20strike%20a,due%20to%20human%20rights%20concerns.|title=Japan not planning to send senior officials to Beijing Olympics}}</ref> Additional reasons for diplomatic boycotts include China's alleged politicization of the games.<ref name="WP20220203"/>

==Criticism of host selection==
American sportscaster [[Bob Costas]] criticized the [[International Olympic Committee]]'s (IOC) decision to award the games to China saying "The IOC deserves all of the disdain and disgust that comes their way for going back to China yet again" referencing China's human rights record.<ref name="cnn.com">{{cite news |last1=Maruf |first1=Ramishah |title='Shameless,' former NBC host says of the Olympics returning to Beijing |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/23/media/bob-costas-beijing-winter-olympics-reliable-sources/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=29 January 2022 |date=26 January 2022}}</ref>

After winning two gold medals and returning to his home country of Sweden skater [[Nils van der Poel]] criticized the IOC's selection of China as the host saying "I think it is extremely irresponsible to give it to a country that violates human rights as blatantly as the Chinese regime is doing." He had declined to criticize China before leaving for the games saying "I don’t think it would be particularly wise for me to criticize the system I’m about to transition to, if I want to live a long and productive life."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Everington |first1=Keoni |title=Swedish skater says China's hosting of Olympics 'extremely irresponsible' amid human rights abuses |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4444098 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |date=15 February 2022 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref>

==Organizing concerns and controversies==
===Cost and climate===
Several cities withdrew their applications during [[Bids for the 2022 Winter Olympics|the bidding process]], citing the high costs or the lack of local support to host the 2022 games, leaving [[Almaty]] in Kazakhstan and Beijing as the only candidate cities by 1 October 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://time.com/3462070/olympics-winter-2022/|title=Why Nobody Wants to Host the 2022 Winter Olympics because it causes lots of dogs to bark|date=3 October 2014|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=19 September 2015|first=Lisa|last=Abend|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918021002/http://time.com/3462070/olympics-winter-2022/|archive-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The decision to bid for the Olympics was controversial in China (and outside), because Beijing itself, and especially some of the proposed outdoor venues, would not have reliable snowfall in winter for snow sports. Concerns have been raised that snow may need to be transported to the venues at great cost and with uncertain environmental consequences.<ref name="Matt">{{cite magazine |last=Matt |first=Schiavenza |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/07/a-winter-olympics-in-a-city-without-snow/400250/ |title=A Winter Olympics in a City Without Snow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924045000/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/07/a-winter-olympics-in-a-city-without-snow/400250/ |archive-date=24 September 2019 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |date=31 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Phillips |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/31/beijing-2022-winter-olympics-snow |title=Beijing promises to overcome lack of snow for 2022 Winter Olympics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619152046/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/31/beijing-2022-winter-olympics-snow |archive-date=19 June 2016 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 July 2015}}</ref>

===Promotional song===
Some commentators alleged that one of the early promotional songs for the [[2022 Winter Olympics]], "The Snow and Ice Dance", sung by [[Sun Nan]] and [[Tan Jing]], had suspicious similarities with "[[Let It Go (Disney song)|Let It Go]]", one of the songs from the 2013 [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] film, ''[[Frozen (2013 film)|Frozen]]''. A Chinese media outlet cited technical analysis of the two songs: both songs employ a piano as the major instrument, have similar prelude chords and an eight-beat introduction, and they run at almost exactly the same tempo.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news|author1=Didi Kirsten Tatlow|title=To Some, Beijing Olympics Song Is Suspiciously Similar to Ballad From Disney's 'Frozen'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/world/asia/to-some-song-of-beijing-games-is-suspiciously-similar-to-a-disney-ballad.html|access-date=5 August 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808044452/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/world/asia/to-some-song-of-beijing-games-is-suspiciously-similar-to-a-disney-ballad.html?_r=0|archive-date=8 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jiang|first1=Steven|title=Is China's 2022 Winter Olympics song too much like 'Frozen's' 'Let It Go'?|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/04/china/china-winter-olympics-song-frozen/|access-date=5 August 2015|publisher=CNN|date=4 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807060127/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/04/china/china-winter-olympics-song-frozen|archive-date=7 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Diplomatic boycotts or non-attendance ==
<section begin=boycotts />
[[File:2022 Winter Olympics (Beijing) boycotting countries (blue).svg|thumb|Countries and Regions that announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics]]

Several countries declined to send any diplomats or official representatives to the games. The following countries have either specifically called their non-attendance a "boycott" or have exclusively stated that their non-attendance is due to human rights concerns:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flag|Australia}}<ref name="BBC20211208">{{Cite news|title=2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Australia joins US diplomatic boycott|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-59573500|website=BBC News|access-date=8 December 2021|date=8 December 2021}}</ref>
* {{flag|Belgium}}<ref name="belgium_follows_in_footstep_of_us_uk_2021">{{Cite news|title=Beijing Olympics boycott: Belgium follows in the footstep of US & UK|url=https://thebl.com/world-news/beijing-olympics-boycott-belgium-follows-in-the-footstep-of-us-uk.html|access-date=17 December 2021|date=16 December 2021 |work=The BL}}</ref>
* {{flag|Canada}}<ref name="globalnews20211208">{{Cite news|title=Canada joining diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8433493/canada-beijing-diplomatic-boycott-announcement/|website=Global News|access-date=8 December 2021|date=8 December 2021|first1=Amanda |last1=Connolly}}</ref>
* {{flag|Denmark}}<ref name="reuters20220114">{{cite web|title=Denmark to join diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics over human rights|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/denmark-join-diplomatic-boycott-beijing-olympics-over-human-rights-2022-01-14/|access-date=14 January 2022|date=14 January 2022|work=Reuters}}</ref>
* {{flag|Estonia}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Estonian government officials in no mood to attend Beijing Olympics|url=https://bnn-news.com/estonian-government-officials-in-no-mood-to-attend-beijing-olympics-231890|access-date=18 January 2022|date=18 January 2022|work=Baltic News Network|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129161408/https://bnn-news.com/estonian-government-officials-in-no-mood-to-attend-beijing-olympics-231890|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|India}}<ref name="WP20220203">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/03/olympics-india-china-torch-boycott/|title=India joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics after Chinese soldier from deadly Himalayan skirmish made part of torch relay|newspaper=The Washington Post |first1=Gerry |last1=Shih |date=February 3, 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Kosovo}}<ref name="alsat.mk">{{Cite news|title=Kosovo boycotts Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://alsat.mk/kosova-bojkoton-lojrat-olimpike-ne-pekin/|website=Alsat News|access-date=8 December 2021|date=8 December 2021}}</ref> 
* {{flag|Lithuania}}<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lithuania confirms diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/lithuania-confirms-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-2022-winter-olympics20211203200952/|website=ANI News|access-date=8 December 2021|date=3 December 2021}}</ref>
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}<ref name="Reuters20211209Boycott">{{Cite news|title=Australia, UK join diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Games|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/australia-joins-diplomatic-boycott-beijing-winter-games-2021-12-08/|website=Reuters|access-date=8 December 2021|date=8 December 2021|first1=David |last1=Ljunggren |first2=Yew Lun |last2=Tian}}</ref>
* {{flag|United States}}<ref name="CNN20211206">{{Cite news|first1=Allie |last1=Malloy |first2=Kate |last2=Sullivan|title=White House announces US diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/us-diplomatic-boycott-winter-olympics/index.html|access-date=6 December 2021|publisher=CNN|date=6 December 2021}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

The following countries also did not send any official representatives, but stated that their non-attendance was due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] or explicitly denied that they considered their non-attendance to be a diplomatic boycott:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flag|Austria}}<ref name = Whoolympics/>
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}<ref>{{cite news|title= Vláda měla o politickém bojkotu olympiády v Číně rozhodnout na začátku, míní poslanec Kolář|work= Deník N|date= 30 January 2022|access-date= 5 February 2022|url= https://denikn.cz/minuta/797953/|language= cs|archive-date= 4 February 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220204154910/https://denikn.cz/minuta/797953/|url-status= live }}</ref>
*{{flag|Germany}}<ref name = Whoolympics/>
*{{flag|Hong Kong}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3165378/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-give|title=Coronavirus: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to skip Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony to supervise anti-pandemic fight; 92 new cases confirmed|date=2022-01-31|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=2022-02-06|archive-date=5 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205215016/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3165378/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-give|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flag|Japan}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan will not send government delegation to Beijing Olympics |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/japan-put-off-sending-officials-beijing-olympics-nhk-says-2021-12-23/ |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=Reuters |date=24 December 2021 |first1=Daniel |last1=Leussink |first2=Kantaro |last2=Komiya}}</ref>
*{{flag|Latvia}}<ref name="bnn-news.com">{{cite news|url=https://bnn-news.com/three-more-countries-declare-diplomatic-boycott-beijing-olympics-latvian-athletes-will-still-participate-230825 |title=Three more countries declare diplomatic boycott |date=10 December 2021 |work=Baltic News Network}}</ref>
*{{flag|Netherlands}}<ref name = Whoolympics/>
*{{flag|New Zealand}}<ref name = Whoolympics/>
*{{flag|Norway}}<ref name = Whoolympics>{{cite news |title=World leaders: Who's coming, who isn't to Beijing Olympics |url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-dignitaries-attending-beijing-2022-7b8a52f7bab22720de2b90895e008ea1 |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=Associated Press |date=4 February 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Slovenia}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Beijing Winter Olympics: Why are they controversial? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-59644043 |access-date=4 February 2022 |publisher=BBC |date=3 February 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Sweden}}<ref name = Whoolympics/>
*{{flag|Switzerland}}<ref name = Whoolympics/>
{{div col end}}<section end=boycotts />

Specifically:
* Austria, Hong Kong, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland have stated that their non-attendance is due to the pandemic.
* Various Czech politicians have publicly disagreed on whether they consider the Czech position to be a boycott, due to the attendance of Czech ambassador to Beijing Vladimír Tomšík.
* Germany has cited both the pandemic and the [[Peng Shuai]] case, but also stated that a diplomatic boycott would be "ineffective".
* Japan has explicitly denied that they consider their position to be a boycott.
* Latvia's president and cabinet refused to attend the games, officially due to "various circumstances including COVID-19 restrictions", but also explicitly denied that their position was a boycott and sent Latvian ambassador to China Maija Manika.
* North Korea also stated that they would not attend the games due to the pandemic;<ref>{{cite news|date=6 January 2022|title=North Korea Says It Will Skip Beijing Olympics Because of the Pandemic|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/world/asia/north-korea-beijing-olympics.html|access-date=5 February 2022|archive-date=5 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205000916/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/world/asia/north-korea-beijing-olympics.html/|url-status=live}}</ref> however due to the suspension of their [[Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|NOC]], their officials would not have been permitted to attend regardless.<ref>https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/General/EN-Olympic-Charter.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=April 2022}}</ref>

=== Background ===
[[File:Boycott Chinese Winter Olympics Protest.jpg|thumb|Protests against Chinese Winter Olympics held in Lausanne, Switzerland]]
{{Further|2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|Uyghur genocide}}
After China had won the bid to host the 2022 Olympics, many Tibetan protesters had criticized the IOC for allowing China to host the games again due to its policies against Tibetans.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tibetan groups campaign against 2022 Olympics going to China|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2015/07/28/tibetan-groups-campaign-against-2022-olympics-going-to-china/30771287/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231085854/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2015/07/28/tibetan-groups-campaign-against-2022-olympics-going-to-china/30771287/|archive-date=31 December 2019|access-date=5 November 2019|website=USA Today|language=en-US|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In the aftermath of the 2019 leak of the [[Xinjiang papers]], the [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests]], [[Wolf warrior diplomacy|China's hostage diplomacy]] and the [[Uyghur cultural genocide|Uyghur genocide]], calls were made for a boycott of the 2022 Games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Karlik|first=Evan|date=8 August 2019|title=The Case for Boycotting Beijing 2022|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/08/the-case-for-boycotting-beijing-2022/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503155623/https://thediplomat.com/2019/08/the-case-for-boycotting-beijing-2022/|archive-date=3 May 2020|access-date=27 November 2019|website=[[The Diplomat]]}}</ref><ref name="Westcott">{{cite web|last=Westcott|first=Ben|date=2 December 2019|title=Huge leaks are exposing Xinjiang's re-education camps. But don't expect Beijing to back down|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/26/asia/china-xinjiang-leaks-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909151942/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/26/asia/china-xinjiang-leaks-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=9 September 2020|access-date=18 August 2020|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Montgomery|first=Marc|date=10 June 2020|title=Boycott the 2022 China Winter Olympics?|url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/06/10/boycott-the-2022-china-winter-olympics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818184356/https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/06/10/boycott-the-2022-china-winter-olympics/|archive-date=18 August 2020|access-date=18 August 2020|work=[[Radio Canada International]]}}</ref><ref name="jerusalempost2">{{cite web|author=Kenneth Bandler|date=17 August 2020|title=The Uyghers' plight is a humanitarian crisis. More must be done to help|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-uyghers-plight-is-a-humanitarian-crisis-more-must-be-done-to-help-638990|access-date=17 August 2020|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|quote='It is a genocide', says Turkel, adding that the 'purposeful prevention of population growth' is one of the legal definitions of genocide. 'In the last year, Uyghur population growth dropped by 24%, and in the previous three years by 84%.'&nbsp;... If there is no significant change in Chinese government policy regarding the Uyghurs, Turkel would like to see the US boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022.}}</ref> In November 2021 the [[Forced disappearance|disappearance]] of former Olympian [[Peng Shuai]] after she made allegations of sexual assault against [[Zhang Gaoli]], former [[Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China|Vice Premier of China]] and a high ranking [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) member, has put pressure on the International Olympic Committee.<ref name="People">{{cite web|last1=Bjornson|first1=Greta|last2=Rubenstein|first2=Janine|title=Pressure Is 'Heightened' on China to Answer for Missing Tennis Star Peng Shuai's Whereabouts|url=https://people.com/sports/peng-shuai-missing-chinese-tennis-player-china-sexual-assault-people-every-day/|access-date=20 November 2021|work=People|date=20 November 2021}}</ref>

Some human rights organizations have called for a diplomatic boycott that would mean countries not sending their heads of state or high-ranking officials to the Olympics but still sending athletes.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hillier|first1=Bianca|title=Human rights groups weigh boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing|url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-11-12/human-rights-groups-weigh-boycott-2022-winter-olympics-beijing|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125192022/https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-11-12/human-rights-groups-weigh-boycott-2022-winter-olympics-beijing|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=27 November 2020|website=pri.org|publisher=Public Radio International |date=12 November 2020}}</ref> In a 30 July 2020 letter, the [[World Uyghur Congress]] urged the IOC to reconsider holding the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because of the Uyghur genocide.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephanie |last=Nebehay|date=14 August 2020|title=Uighur group urges IOC to reconsider 2022 Beijing Winter Games venue|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-china-uighurs-idUSKCN25A1PG|url-status=live|access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Uighur group calls for China to lose 2022 Winter Olympics over 'genocide'|url=https://www.wionews.com/world/uighur-group-calls-for-china-to-lose-2022-winter-olympics-over-genocide-317143/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809175242/https://www.wionews.com/world/uighur-group-calls-for-china-to-lose-2022-winter-olympics-over-genocide-317143|archive-date=9 August 2020|access-date=18 August 2020|publisher=[[WION (TV channel)|WION]] |agency=Agence France-Presse|date=31 July 2020}}</ref> The World Uyghur Congress does not support a full boycott; instead, they want athletes to use the games as a chance to raise awareness about the Uyghur genocide, similar to the way that athletes have raised the profile of the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement.<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite news|last1=Wade|first1=Stephen|title=More questions on human rights for Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-juan-antonio-samaranch-beijing-2020-tokyo-olympics-china-d03b46950b26420664677b8d1aa8caa2|url-status=live|date=16 October 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104122248/https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-juan-antonio-samaranch-beijing-2020-tokyo-olympics-china-d03b46950b26420664677b8d1aa8caa2|archive-date=4 November 2020|access-date=27 November 2020|website=apnews.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The IOC met with activists in late 2020 about their request to move the Olympics.<ref name="Bach-IOC2">{{cite news|last=Wade|first=Stephen|date=14 March 2021|title=Explainer: What drives possible boycott of Beijing Olympics|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-winter-olympics-boycotts-tibet-hong-kong-7df9cfbfc0208bff14bc284e22d1e637|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317235302/https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-winter-olympics-boycotts-tibet-hong-kong-7df9cfbfc0208bff14bc284e22d1e637|archive-date=17 March 2021|access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> In March 2021, the IOC president [[Thomas Bach]] opposed a boycott, which would also damage the IOC image and finances, and said that the IOC must stay out of politics.<ref name="Bach-IOC2" /> On 14 October 2021, the executive vice-president of the IOC, [[John Coates (sports administrator)|John Coates]], said that the IOC would not challenge the Chinese government over the issue of the Uyghurs, stating that it was "not within the IOC's remit".<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news|agency=Reuters|date=13 October 2021|title=IOC's Coates rules out pressuring China over human rights|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/iocs-coates-rules-out-pressuring-china-over-human-rights-2021-10-13/|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>

On 23 June 2021 (Olympic Day), multiple Tibetan, Uyghur, Hongkonger, Chinese, Taiwanese and Southern Mongolian representatives staged protests in 50 cities worldwide, calling for a mass boycott.<ref name="InGameBiz20210618">{{cite web|date=18 June 2021|title=Activists to hold global protests on Olympic Day against staging of Beijing 2022|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109182/protests-olympic-day-beijing-2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618141122/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109182/protests-olympic-day-beijing-2022|archive-date=18 June 2021|access-date=7 July 2021|website=insidethegames.biz|first1=Geoff |last1=Berkeley}}</ref>

On 7 September 2021, human rights groups called on Olympics broadcasters, including [[NBC]], to cancel the broadcasting plans for 2022 Olympics due to China's human rights issue.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite news|date=8 September 2021|title=Rights groups ask broadcasters not to air Beijing Olympics|publisher=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/32169580/rights-groups-ask-broadcasters-not-air-beijing-olympics|access-date=10 September 2021 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In January 2022, it was reported that the United States is considering legislation to strip the IOC of its federal tax-exempt status in response to the IOC's "refusal to challenge China on human rights abuses".<ref name="Armour">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2022/01/13/ioc-stance-chinas-winter-olympics-may-prove-costly-lawmakers/9186533002/ |title=Lawmakers seek to strip IOC of tax-exempt status for going easy on China's Winter Olympics |last=Armour |first=Nancy |date=13 January 2022 |website=USA Today |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>

More than 200 human rights organizations have voiced support for a boycott of the games. Groups protesting the games have called them the "Genocide Games."<ref name="NBCConnecticut20220131">{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Noreen |title=What's Behind the Calls for an Olympic Boycott? |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/whats-behind-the-calls-for-an-olympic-boycott/2705373/ |website=nbcconnecticut.com |publisher=NBC Connecticut |access-date=31 January 2022|date=31 January 2022}}</ref>

=== United States ===
{{Further|China–United States relations}}
In October 2018, Senator [[Marco Rubio]], on behalf of the U.S. [[Congressional-Executive Commission on China]], asked that China be deprived of the hosting rights for the 2022 Olympics due to the "dire human rights situation" there.<ref name="insidethegames20181011">{{cite news|first1=James |last1=Diamond|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070936/us-congressional-panel-calls-on-ioc-to-strip-beijing-of-2022-winter-olympics |title=US Congressional panel calls on IOC to strip Beijing of 2022 Winter Olympics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419214709/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070936/us-congressional-panel-calls-on-ioc-to-strip-beijing-of-2022-winter-olympics|archive-date=19 April 2020 |work=Inside the Games |date=11 October 2018}}</ref> In September 2020, United States Senator [[Rick Scott]] spoke with the IOC Vice President about reconsidering the IOC's decision to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in China.<ref>{{Cite press release|date=11 September 2020|title=Sen. Rick Scott: I'm Disappointed IOC Vice President Refused to Commit to Move 2022 Olympic Games Out of Communist China|url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/sen-rick-scott-im-disappointed-ioc-vice-president-refused-commit-move-2022-olympic-games-out|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006065817/https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/sen-rick-scott-im-disappointed-ioc-vice-president-refused-commit-move-2022-olympic-games-out|archive-date=6 October 2020|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Senator Rick Scott}}</ref> On 25 February 2021, U.S. Representative [[John Katko]] stated that China is "a country that's engaged in genocide" and called upon the United States to boycott participation in the [[2022 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gaydos|first=Ryan|date=25 February 2021|title=US competing in 2022 Beijing Olympics 'wrong signal to send' amid China's Muslim Uyghur genocide, NY rep says|publisher=[[Fox News]]|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-2022-beijing-olympics-china-muslim-uyghurs-genocide-ny-rep-katko|url-status=live|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305032021/https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-2022-beijing-olympics-china-muslim-uyghurs-genocide-ny-rep-katko|archive-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> In March 2021, Senator [[Mitt Romney]] called for an "economic and diplomatic boycott" of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in which U.S. athletes would still participate, but no American spectators or dignitaries would attend.<ref name="Romney">{{Cite news|last=Romney|first=Mitt|date=15 March 2021|title=The Right Way to Boycott the Beijing Olympics|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/opinion/politics/beijing-olympics-mitt-romney.html|url-status=live|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315190804/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/opinion/politics/beijing-olympics-mitt-romney.html|archive-date=15 March 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In May 2021, Speaker of the House [[Nancy Pelosi]] called for a diplomatic boycott and said heads of state should not "honor China" by attending the Olympic Games.<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news|last1=Ni|first1=Vincent|date=19 May 2021|title=China labels Nancy Pelosi 'full of lies' after call for Winter Olympics boycott|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/19/nancy-pelosi-calls-for-us-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-winter-olympics|url-status=live|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602081934/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/19/nancy-pelosi-calls-for-us-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-winter-olympics|archive-date=2 June 2021}}</ref> In July 2021, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China called on the IOC to relocate or postpone the games.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Landen|first=Xander|date=24 July 2021|title=U.S. Lawmakers Accuse IOC of Setting 'Dark Precedent' Over China 2022 Winter Olympics|work=[[Newsweek]]|url=https://www.newsweek.com/us-lawmakers-accuse-ioc-setting-dark-precedent-over-china-2022-winter-olympics-1612760|access-date=27 July 2021}}</ref>

In April 2021, it was reported that the [[Biden administration]] was "not discussing any joint boycott with allies and partners."<ref name="cnbc_U.S.2">{{cite web|last=Macias|first=Amanda|date=6 April 2021|title=U.S. considering joining boycott of 2022 Beijing Olympics, State Department says|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/06/us-considering-joining-boycott-of-2022-beijing-olympics.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406202053/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/06/us-considering-joining-boycott-of-2022-beijing-olympics.html|archive-date=6 April 2021|access-date=6 April 2021|publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>

In a survey taken in August 2021, 49 percent of Americans believe that China's human rights record should prevent it from hosting the winter Olympics in 2022 and 33 percent are not sure.<ref name="Nather">{{cite news|last=Nather|first=David|date=7 August 2021|title=Ax2. Exclusive poll: Trouble ahead for the Beijing Olympics|work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|url=https://www.axios.com/beijing-olympics-trouble-axios-momentive-poll-670761b3-fd99-4a42-b332-bfe33f6feb44.html|access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref>

On 18 November 2021, President [[Joe Biden]] said the U.S. is "considering" a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.<ref name="Reyes">{{cite news|last=Reyes|first=Yacob|date=18 November 2021|title=Biden: U.S. "considering" diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics|work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|url=https://www.axios.com/biden-beijing-olympics-diplomatic-boycott-77ed7565-1de9-4329-ad01-b369024997e9.html|access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> Some, like US senator [[Tom Cotton]], called for a full boycott of the games, which would bar U.S. athletes from competing and bar U.S. companies from sponsoring the games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Tom Cotton calls on Biden administration to boycott 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-tom-cotton-calls-biden-administration-boycott-2022-winter-olympics-n1284118|access-date=19 November 2021|publisher=NBC News|language=en |first1=Rebecca |last1=Shabad |date=18 November 2021}}</ref> Due to a change in the last version of the Olympic Charter, a full boycott by the United States, like the one at the [[1980 Summer Olympics]], could result in the most severe punishment, which is the suspension by the National Olympic Committee for 2 years of the Olympic Games, a similar situation to what happened with North Korea in the 2020 games.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Radnofsky|first=Louise|date=8 September 2021|title=North Korea Suspended From Olympics Until the End of 2022|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-suspended-from-olympics-11631130538|access-date=19 November 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

On 6 December 2021, White House Press Secretary, [[Jen Psaki]], announced that the [[Joe Biden|Biden]] administration would initiate a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2022 Winter Paralympics. The diplomatic boycott would bar all US government officials from attending the games in an official capacity. The White House cited China's mistreatment of the Uyghur people as the reason for the boycott. The White House said it stopped short of a full boycott, because "it would not be fair to punish athletes who have trained for years".<ref name="CNN20211206"/>

On 27 December 2021, the Chinese foreign ministry said it has received visa applications for 18 US officials to attend the games.<ref>{{Cite news|title=China says 18 US officials have filed visa requests to visit Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://www.australiannews.net/news/272040787/china-says-18-us-officials-have-filed-visa-requests-to-visit-beijing-winter-olympics|date=27 December 2021|access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref> The US said that the visa applications were consistent with its diplomatic boycott as the applicants would only be providing "consular and diplomatic security services" to its athletes.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Biden's diplomatic boycott stands despite asking to send 18 officials to Beijing Winter Olympics: US|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3161250/bidens-diplomatic-boycott-stands-despite-asking-send-18|date=28 December 2021|access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref>

=== Australia ===
{{Further|Australia–China relations}}
China's alleged use of coercive diplomacy against Australia has led to increased calls within Australia to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics. In November 2020, Australian Senators [[Jacqui Lambie]] and [[Rex Patrick]] officially proposed a boycott, but their proposal was voted down.<ref name="The Diplomat">{{cite web|last1=Citowicki|first1=Philip|title=Continued Deterioration in Australia-China Relations Fuels Talk of Olympic Boycott|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/continued-deterioration-in-australia-china-relations-fuels-talk-of-olympic-boycott/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123073543/https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/continued-deterioration-in-australia-china-relations-fuels-talk-of-olympic-boycott/|archive-date=23 November 2020|access-date=24 November 2020|website=thediplomat.com|publisher=The Diplomat|date=20 November 2020}}</ref> Australia has decided that no Australian based politician or officials will be attending the games, and Canberra has also refused to sign the Olympic Truce for the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia refuses to sign 'truce' for Beijing Olympics as it weighs up diplomatic boycott|url=https://theworldnews.net/au-news/australia-refuses-to-sign-truce-for-beijing-olympics-as-it-weighs-up-diplomatic-boycott|date=3 December 2021|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>
 
On 7 December 2021, Australian Prime Minister [[Scott Morrison]] stated that Australia would join with the United States in the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 games. He stated that it was "human rights abuses," referencing the ongoing genocide of Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang region, as well as "many other issues that Australia has consistently raised". He went on to state that it was "no surprise" that Canberra would do this following consistent deterioration of relations between Canberra and Beijing. Morrison also stated that the decision was "in Australia's national interest," and that it is the "right thing to do."<ref name="BBC20211208"/>

=== India ===
{{Further|China–India relations|2020–2022 China–India skirmishes}}
After it was revealed that [[People's Liberation Army]] regimental commander Qi Fabao, who led the Chinese troops during skirmishes against Indian troops during the [[2020–2021 China–India skirmishes|2020 Galwan Valley clash]], would be one of the torchbearers during the opening ceremony of the games, [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Indian Ministry of External Affairs]] spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated: "It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicize an event like the Olympics". Bagchi also stated that the ''[[chargé d'affaires]]'' of the [[Embassy of India, Beijing|Embassy of India in Beijing]] will not attend the opening or closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|last=Media Center|date=3 February 2022|title=Transcript of Virtual Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (February 03, 2022)|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/34800/Transcript_of_Virtual_Weekly_Media_Briefing_by_the_Official_Spokesperson_February_03_2022|access-date=15 February 2022|website=[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)]]}}</ref><ref name="India Today">{{Cite news|last=Mohan |first=Geeta|date=3 February 2022|title=Indian diplomats to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics after China makes Galwan PLA soldier torch bearer|language=en|work=[[India Today]]|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-diplomats-in-china-to-boycott-beijing-winter-olympics-after-galwan-hurt-pla-officer-made-torch-bearer-1908335-2022-02-03|access-date=3 February 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=3 February 2022|title=One of China's picks for a torchbearer is an army commander who clashed with India.|author=Keith Bradshar|author2=Karan Deep Singh|language=en|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/sports/olympics/china-torch-colonel-qi-fabao-india.html|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=3 February 2022|title=Virtual Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (February 03, 2022)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDWBw-Q6DJ4|access-date=4 February 2022|work=Ministry of External Affairs, India|type=YouTube video}}</ref> The CEO of [[Prasar Bharati]], India's public broadcaster, announced that they will not air the 2022 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremony.<ref>{{cite news|title=DD Sports will not air Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremony |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/others/dd-sports-will-not-air-beijing-2022-winter-olympics-opening-and-closing-ceremony20220203180611/ |access-date=5 February 2022 |work=ANI News |date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

Qi Fabao had been captured in June 2020 by Indian forces when he tried to mount an attack on Indian forces in the Galwan Valley, according to an investigative report by the Australian newspaper ''The Klaxon''. According to the report, 38 Chinese troops drowned in the early stages of the 15–16 June face-off between Indian and Chinese forces while attempting to cross the [[Galwan River]] at [[Line of Actual Control]] in the dark. The Chinese government accepted four casualties.<ref name="India Today" />

=== Calls for boycotts by other countries ===
In a non-binding motion in February 2021, the Canadian House of Commons called for the IOC to move the Olympics to a new location.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wade|first=Stephen|date=25 February 2021|title=Rights groups target sponsors in protest over 2022 Beijing Olympics|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/olympics-beijing-2022-boycott-sponsors-1.5928953|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323151642/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/olympics-beijing-2022-boycott-sponsors-1.5928953|archive-date=23 March 2021|access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> In a nationwide survey conducted in March 2021, 54% of Canadians said the country should boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, while 24% believed it should not and 21% were not sure.<ref name="Canseco">{{cite news|last=Canseco|first=Mario|date=1 April 2021|title=Most Canadians Support Boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics|work=[[Research Co.]]|url=https://researchco.ca/2021/04/01/canada-boycott-beijing-2022/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603140616/https://researchco.ca/2021/04/01/canada-boycott-beijing-2022/|archive-date=3 June 2021|access-date=1 April 2021}}</ref>

In July 2021, the [[European Parliament]] and the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] voted in favor of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref name="Davidson">{{Cite news|last=Davidson|first=Helen|date=9 July 2021|title=EU votes for diplomats to boycott China Winter Olympics over rights abuses|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/09/eu-votes-diplomats-boycott-china-winter-olympics-human-rights-abuses|url-status=live|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709165824/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/09/eu-votes-diplomats-boycott-china-winter-olympics-human-rights-abuses|archive-date=9 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="Barlett-Imadegawa">{{Cite news|last=Barlett-Imadegawa|first=Rhyannon|date=16 July 2021|title=UK lawmakers vote for diplomatic boycott of Beijing Games|work=[[The Nikkei]]|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/UK-lawmakers-vote-for-diplomatic-boycott-of-Beijing-Games|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref>

On 19 November 2021, 17 members of the Lithuanian national parliament [[Seimas]] released an official letter encouraging [[Lithuania]] to withdraw from the 2022 Olympics due human rights violations in China.<ref name="delfi.lt">{{Cite news|date=19 November 2021|title=Grupė Lietuvos parlamentarų ragina boikotuoti Pekino žiemos olimpines žaidynes|language=lt|trans-title=A group of Lithuanian parliamentarians is calling for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics|journal=The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition|url=https://www.delfi.lt/sportas/kitos-sporto-sakos/grupe-lietuvos-parlamentaru-ragina-boikotuoti-pekino-ziemos-olimpines-zaidynes.d?id=88717353|access-date=28 November 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> [[Daina Gudzinevičiūtė]], president of [[National Olympic Committee of Lithuania]], released a statement that Olympic games should be politically neutral and confirmed that committee has no plans to boycott the games.<ref name="ltok.lt">{{cite web|date=23 November 2021|title=LTOK pozicija dėl siūlymo sportininkams boikotuoti Pekino žiemos olimpines žaidynes|trans-title=LTOK position on proposing to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://www.ltok.lt/ltok-pozicija-del-siulymo-sportininkams-biokotuoti-pekino-ziemos-olimpines-zaidynes/|access-date=1 December 2021|website=Lietuvos tautinis olimpinis komitetas|language=lt}}</ref><ref name="15min.lt">{{Cite news|date=23 November 2021|title=Po Seimo narių prašymo boikotuoti Pekino olimpinės žaidynes – griežtas LTOK atsakas|trans-title=Following the request of the members of the Seimas to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games, there is a strong LTOK response|language=lt|journal=The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition|url=https://www.15min.lt/sportas/naujiena/kita/po-seimo-nariu-prasymo-boikotuoti-pekino-olimpines-zaidynes-grieztas-ltok-atsakas-26-1602488|access-date=28 November 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Lithuania's president, Gitanas Nauseda, released a statement confirming the Lithuanian diplomatic boycott on 3 December 2021. This was due to concerns of human rights abuses in China.

On 8 December 2021, the United Kingdom and Canada joined the United States and Australia, whom both announced diplomatic boycotts of the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref name="BBC20211208"/><ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news|date=8 December 2021|title=UK joins diplomatic boycott of China Winter Olympics|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59582137|access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="CBCNews20211208">{{Cite news|date=8 December 2021|title=Trudeau announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics|language=en-CA|publisher=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-diplomatic-boycott-winter-olympic-games-1.6277773|access-date=8 December 2021|first1=John Paul |last1=Tasker}}</ref>

In December 2021, the government of [[Latvia]] announced that it would not send diplomats to the games.<ref name="bnn-news.com"/>

In January 2022, the governments of Sweden, [[Denmark]], and the [[Netherlands]] separately announced that they will not send diplomats to the games.<ref name="ran.de">{{cite news|url=https://www.ran.de/olympia/news/wegen-corona-keine-schwedischen-regierungsvertreter-in-peking-139815 |work=Ran.de |title=Wegen Corona keine schwedischen Regierungsvertreter in Peking |trans-title=No Swedish government representatives in Beijing because of Corona |date=11 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="reuters20220114"/>

=== Chinese Government response ===
In February 2021, the Chinese Communist Party-owned tabloid ''[[Global Times]]'' warned that China could "seriously sanction any country that follows a boycott."<ref>{{cite web|date=10 February 2021|title=Warning that boycott of Beijing 2022 could be met with Chinese sanctions|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1104119/beijing-2022-boycott-chinese-sanctions|access-date=16 February 2021|website=Insidethegames.biz|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211085724/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1104119/beijing-2022-boycott-chinese-sanctions|url-status=live |first1=Nancy |last1=Gillen}}</ref><ref name="7news.com.au">{{cite web|date=9 February 2021|first1=Alex |last1=Chapman|title='Retaliate fiercely': China issues chilling Olympics warning|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/winter-olympics/china-threatens-sanctions-for-countries-that-threaten-to-boycott-2022-beijing-winter-olympics-c-2126770|access-date=16 February 2021|website=7NEWS.com.au|language=en|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212222240/https://7news.com.au/sport/winter-olympics/china-threatens-sanctions-for-countries-that-threaten-to-boycott-2022-beijing-winter-olympics-c-2126770|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, Chinese spokesperson Guo Weimin stated that any attempt to boycott the Olympics would be doomed to fail.<ref>{{Cite news|title=China: Calls for 2022 Winter Olympics boycott doomed to fail|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/china-calls-2022-winter-olympics-boycott-doomed-fail-76221092|url-status=live|access-date=7 March 2021|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309231627/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/china-calls-2022-winter-olympics-boycott-doomed-fail-76221092 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Chinese Foreign Minister [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]] also told the EU's foreign policy chief [[Josep Borrell]] that they should attend the games to "enhance exchanges on winter sport," and to "foster new highlights" in bilateral cooperation.<ref name="politico.eu">{{cite web|date=4 March 2021|title=Critics question China's right to host Winter Olympics|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/china-beijing-2022-winter-olympics-human-rights-violations-uighurs/|website=Politico|language=en-US|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310022020/https://www.politico.eu/article/china-beijing-2022-winter-olympics-human-rights-violations-uighurs/|url-status=live|access-date=7 March 2021|first1=Ali |last1=Walker |first2=Eline |last2=Schaart |first3=Stuart |last3=Lau}}</ref>

On 29 November 2021, Chinese media reported that China reportedly does not plan to invite Western politicians who threaten a diplomatic boycott to the Beijing Winter Olympics.<ref name="The Globe and Mail">{{cite news|title=China reportedly does not plan to invite Western politicians who threaten diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/article-china-reportedly-does-not-plan-to-invite-western-politicians-who/|access-date=7 December 2021|agency=Reuters|work=The Globe and Mail|date=29 November 2021}}</ref>

=== IOC response ===
The IOC has stated that the diplomatic boycotts are "a purely political decision for each government, which the IOC in its political neutrality fully respects."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/ioc-respects-us-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-olympics/articleshow/88140582.cms | title=IOC 'respects' US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics | newspaper=The Economic Times }}</ref> It has also stated that the award of hosting the games does not mean that the IOC agrees with the political structure, social circumstances, or human rights standards in the country they are held in. When prompted by [[Agence France-Presse]], the IOC responded: "We've repeatedly said it: the IOC isn't responsible for the government. It only gives the rights and opportunity for the staging of the Olympic Games. That doesn't mean we agree with all the politics, all the social or human rights issues in the country. And it doesn't mean we approve of all the human rights violations of a person or people." This position has generated criticism, with [[Jules Boykoff]] accusing the IOC of hypocrisy by saying that it ignores its charter that promotes equality and anti-discrimination when it is convenient to do so and that the IOC has shown an "unfortunate propensity for turning away from human rights atrocities to make sure that the games go on."<ref name="politico.eu" />

On 8 September 2021, after the IOC suspended the [[Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|North Korean NOC]] for not being present at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], there was speculation about whether the IOC was also intending to send a message to nations considering a boycott of the games that they could be banned from participation in future Olympic Games if they chose to boycott this edition.<ref>{{cite web|last=Saric|first=Ivana|title=North Korea suspended from 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://www.axios.com/ioc-suspend-north-korea-2022-olympics-6c170c50-2812-4942-8d64-c9fe3b9993a9.html|date=8 September 2021|access-date=9 September 2021|website=Axios|language=en|archive-date=9 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909191101/https://www.axios.com/ioc-suspend-north-korea-2022-olympics-6c170c50-2812-4942-8d64-c9fe3b9993a9.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USA Today">{{cite news|last1=Armour|first1=Nancy|title=North Korea barred from Beijing Olympics because of its decision to skip Tokyo Games|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2021/09/08/north-korea-banned-from-2022-winter-olympic-games/5773324001/|access-date=8 September 2021|work=USA Today|date=8 September 2021|archive-date=9 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909000641/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2021/09/08/north-korea-banned-from-2022-winter-olympic-games/5773324001/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 October 2021, the executive vice-president of the IOC, Australian [[John Coates (sports administrator)|John Coates]], said that the IOC would not challenge the Chinese government over the issue of the Uyghurs, stating that it was "not within the IOC's remit".<ref name="Reuters"/>

However, during the [[2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]], IOC president, [[Thomas Bach]] had called for the end of various types of discrimination during his speech indirectly referring to the human rights abuses in China.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Winsor |first1=Morgan |last2=Alfonseca |first2=Kiara |title=2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony: Best moments from the event |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/live-updates/beijing-olympics-opening-ceremony/?id=82644432 |access-date=5 February 2022 |agency=ABC News |date=5 February 2022}}</ref> On 17 February 2022 towards the end of the Games, when a [[Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|BOCOG]] spokesperson referred to questions about Xinjiang as "lies", the IOC reminded BOCOG to remain politically neutral.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220218-ioc-chief-rebukes-beijing-olympics-organisers-for-political-statements | title=IOC chief rebukes Beijing Olympics organisers for political statements | date=18 February 2022 }}</ref>

==Athletes and team officials complaints==
Athletes participating have said, the games "are not living up to the hype — especially considering how China promised the world a “streamlined, safe and most splendid Games.” Team officials from delegations including Belgium, Germany and the Russian Olympic Committee have all brought up issues facing their athletes in quarantine hotels, among them no internet, low-quality food, insufficient facilities and no training equipment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Butterfield|first=Michelle|date=10 February 2022|title='It's a big joke for me': Olympics athletes say they're starved for food, information|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8609906/beijing-olympics-athlete-complaints-food-covid-weather/|work=[[Global News]]|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>

===Quarantine facilities===
Polish short track speed skater [[Natalia Maliszewska]] posted on Twitter, "I don’t believe in anything anymore. In no tests. No games. It’s a big joke for me" after a series of mistakes by Chinese officials conducting COVID-19 tests on her.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lane|first=Barnaby|date=7 February 2022|title=An Olympic speed skater says she was put in an ambulance at 3 a.m. after being released from quarantine, then cried 'like crazy'|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/an-olympic-speed-skater-says-she-was-put-in-an-ambulance-at-3-a-m-after-being-released-from-quarantine-then-cried-like-crazy/articleshow/89413365.cms|work=[[Insider (news website)|Insider]]|location=New York City, New York, U.S.|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hjelmgaard|first=Kim|date=6 February 2022|title='I cry every day': Olympic athletes slam food, COVID tests and conditions in Beijing quarantine hotels|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/07/beijing-athletes-rip-covid-quarantine-hotels-food/6687367001/|work=[[USA Today]]|location=McLean, Virginia,, United States|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> Meanwhile, Finnish men's ice hockey team's coach [[Jukka Jalonen]] accused China of not respecting the human rights of athlete [[Marko Anttila]], who had not received food and was under a lot of stress while in quarantine.<ref>{{cite news|last3=Grohmann|first3=Karolos|last2=Pretot|first2=Julien|last1=Keating|first1=Steve|date=6 February 2022|title=China accused of ignoring Olympic hockey player's human rights as isolation complaints grow|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/olympics-china-accused-of-ignoring-hockey-players-human-rights-as-isolation-complaints-grow-2|work=[[National Post]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canadacaccess-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rahaman Sarkar|first=Alisha|date=7 February 2022|title=China accused of not respecting player's human rights over Covid isolation protocols: 'Not getting good food'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/winter-olympics/china-winter-olympics-covid-athletes-b2009063.html|work=[[The Independent]]|location=London, United Kingdom|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>

On February 2, Belgian skeleton athlete [[Kim Meylemans]] posted on social media and was in tears about the conditions she faced while in quarantine.<ref>{{cite news|last=Panja|first=Tariq|date=2 February 2022|title=Confusion, frustration and tears: a Belgian Olympian's day in isolation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/sports/olympics/kim-meylemans-olympics-covid-quarantine.html|work=[[New York Times]]|location=New York City, New York, U.S.|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Reynolds|first=Tim|date=3 February 2022|title=Olympian moved to village after tearful video in isolation|url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-kim-meylemans-covid-isolation-8ccaf121249292e846a31a896c0250e4|work=Associated Press|location=New York City, New York, U.S|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> Meylemans was supposed to be transported to the village after her time in quarantine was over, but was transported to a different quarantine facility instead. After the video was posted, Belgian Olympic team officials and the [[International Olympic Committee]] had to intervene, and Meylemans was moved to the Athletes Village in Yanqing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/skeleton/story/_/id/33202803/belgian-skeleton-racer-kim-meylemans-moved-olympic-village-tearful-video-covid-19-isolation|title=Belgian skeleton racer Kim Meylemans moved to Olympic village after tearful video about COVID-19 isolation|date=2 February 2022|website=www.espn.com|publisher=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> Moreover, Dirk Schimmelpfennig, Germany's [[chef de mission]] called the hotel accommodations provided for Olympic gold medalist in Nordic Combined [[Eric Frenzel]] as “unreasonable".<ref>{{cite news|last=Berkeley|first=Geoff|title=Beijing 2022 slammed over "unacceptable" quarantine conditions for Frenzel|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1118872/beijing-2022-quarantine-conditions|access-date=6 February 2022|work=[[Insidethegames]]|date=11 February 2022}}</ref>

===Food===
The food being served at the games was also criticized. During the [[Alpine skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's downhill|men's downhill event]] in alpine skiing, German coach Christian Schweiger said the following, “the catering is extremely questionable. I would have expected that the Olympic Committee is capable of providing hot meals, there are crisps, some nuts and chocolate and nothing else. This shows a lack of focus on high-performance sport”.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Philip|date=6 February 2022|title=Alpine skiing-Cold food riles Germany coach, U.S. bring own pasta|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/alpine-skiing-cold-food-riles-germany-coach-us-bring-own-pasta-2022-02-06/|work=[[Reuters]]|location=London, United Kingdom|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> Also, Russian Olympic Committee biathlete [[Valeria Vasnetsova]] posted on social media that she was served the same food for all three meals and posted "My stomach hurts, I’m very pale and I have huge black circles around my eyes". Vasnetsova said she was only able to eat the pasta served as the rest of the food was inedible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2022/02/07/russian-olympic-committee-athlete-posts-photo-food-served-athletes-quarantine|title=Russian Olympic Committee Athlete Posts Photo of Food Apparently Served to Athletes in Quarantine|last=Salvador|first=Joseph|date=7 February 2022|website=www.si.com|publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> The [[United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics|United States]] delegation brought extra food, such as bags of pasta, anticipating issues with the food at the games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lemoncelli|first=Jenna|date=7 February 2022|title=Olympians in tears over poor living conditions, lack of food at Winter Games|url=https://nypost.com/2022/02/07/olympians-complain-about-food-isolation-rooms-at-winter-games/|work=[[New York Post]]|location=New York City, New York, U.S.|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> Also, a manager from a restaurant in the 'bubble' for the games admitted the food served there was 'disgusting' and only low quality packaged food items were available at the Main Media Centre.<ref name=ps>{{cite news|last=Sharma|first=Shweta|date=10 February 2022|title=Winter Olympics 2022: Hotel manager in Beijing calls food at own restaurant 'disgusting'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/winter-olympics/beijing-winter-olympics-manager-restaurant-food-b2012090.html|work=[[The Independent]]|location=London, United Kingdom|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> The [[International Olympic Committee]] would release a statement acknowledging the issues raised by athletes, "particularly with regard to food temperature, variety and portion size”.<ref name=ps/>

===Weather conditions===
Other complaints included the weather conditions at the games, with athletes raising complaints about competing in unsafe weather conditions. The Swedish team requested the races be moved to earlier in the day to protect athletes from the cold weather.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nasralla|first=Shadia|date=6 February 2022|title=Alpine skiing-Cold food riles Germany coach, U.S. bring own pasta|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/cross-country-skiing-swedes-seek-time-switch-over-biting-cold-2022-02-06/|work=[[Reuters]]|location=London, United Kingdom|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> This was done after athlete [[Frida Karlsson]] nearly fainted at the conclusion of the [[Cross-country skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Women's 15 kilometre skiathlon|women's skiathlon cross-country race]].<ref>{{cite news|date=8 February 2022|title=Beijing 2022: Winter Olympics hit by deluge of complaints from athletes|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60298184|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London, United Kingdom|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> Some athletes resorted to putting tape on their faces and noses to protect them from the bitter cold.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dicker|first=Ron|date=10 February 2022|title=Athletes Are Taping Their Faces At Winter Olympics But Maybe They Shouldn't|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tape-face-winter-olympics_n_620507c6e4b04af87f3967b0|work=[[HuffPost]]|location=New York City, New York, U.S.|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>

==Team Russia==
{{Further|Doping in Russia}}
On 9 December 2019, the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] (WADA) banned Russia from all international sport for a period of four years, after the Russian government was found to have tampered with lab data that it provided to WADA in January 2019 as a condition of the [[Russian Anti-Doping Agency]] being reinstated. As a result of the ban, WADA will allow individually cleared [[Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics|Russian athletes]] to take part in the 2022 Winter Olympics under a neutral banner, as instigated at the 2018 Winter Olympics. The title of the neutral banner was yet to be determined; WADA Compliance Review Committee head Jonathan Taylor stated that the IOC would not be able to use "[[Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics|Olympic Athletes from Russia]]" (OAR) as it did in 2018, emphasizing that neutral athletes cannot be portrayed as representing a specific country.<ref name="MacInnes">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/09/russia-banned-from-tokyo-olympics-and-football-world-cup|title=Russia banned from Tokyo Olympics and football World Cup|last=MacInnes|first=Paul|date=9 December 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 December 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209155622/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/09/russia-banned-from-tokyo-olympics-and-football-world-cup|archive-date=9 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/50710598|title=Russia banned for four years to include 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup|work=BBC Sport|date=9 December 2019|access-date=9 December 2019|language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211171354/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/50710598 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Japan Times">{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/13/olympics/wada-lawyer-defends-lack-blanket-ban-russia/ |title=WADA lawyer defends lack of blanket ban on Russia |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=17 December 2019 |agency=Associated Press |work=[[The Japan Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214162048/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/13/olympics/wada-lawyer-defends-lack-blanket-ban-russia/#.Xfknqej7S00 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Russia later filed an appeal to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) against the WADA decision.<ref name="time.com">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5756077/russia-olympic-ban-appeal/ |title=Russia Confirms It Will Appeal 4-Year Olympic Ban |date=27 December 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227213853/https://time.com/5756077/russia-olympic-ban-appeal/ |archive-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> The Court of Arbitration for Sport, on review of Russia's appeal of its case from WADA, ruled on 17 December 2020, to reduce the penalty that WADA had placed. Instead of banning Russia from sporting events, the ruling allowed Russia to participate at the Olympics and other international events, but for a period of two years, the team cannot use the Russian name, flag, or anthem and must present themselves as "Neutral Athlete" or "Neutral Team". The ruling does allow for team uniforms to display "Russia" on the uniform as well as the use of the Russian flag colors within the uniform's design, although the name should be up to equal predominance as the "Neutral Athlete/Team" designation.<ref name="Dunbar">{{cite news | url = https://apnews.com/article/russia-banned-name-flag-olympic-games-a8bd342806883f66152859701d5ae5d4 | title=  Russia can't use its name and flag at the next 2 Olympics | first = Graham | last = Dunbar |date = 17 December 2020 | access-date= 17 December 2020 | work = Associated Press }}</ref>

The IOC announced on 19 February 2021 that Russia would compete in both the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] (which was postponed to 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]) and 2022 Winter Olympics under the acronym "ROC", after the name of the [[Russian Olympic Committee]]. However, the name of the committee itself in full could not be used to refer to the delegation. The ROC team would be represented by the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympics: Russia to compete under ROC acronym in Tokyo as part of doping sanctions |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-russia/olympics-russia-to-compete-under-roc-acronym-in-tokyo-as-part-of-doping-sanctions-idUSKBN2AJ1UZ |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=Reuters |date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220020504/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-russia/olympics-russia-to-compete-under-roc-acronym-in-tokyo-as-part-of-doping-sanctions-idUSKBN2AJ1UZ |archive-date=20 February 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 22 April 2021, the IOC approved a fragment of [[Pyotr Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] to be used in place of the Russian national anthem.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tchaikovsky Selection To Replace Banned Russian Anthem At Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympics|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-olympics-anthem-tchaikovsky-doping-ban-tokyo-beijing/31217728.html|date=22 April 2021|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}}</ref>

===Russian invasion of Ukraine===
{{main|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russo-Ukrainian war}}
Russia was criticised for its troop build-up near the Ukrainian border. There were also calls to remove Russia from the Olympics sports committees. On 24 February 2022, Russia commenced a full invasion of Ukraine, resulting in further sporting sanctions against the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/18/olympics-shows-what-happens-when-putin-transgressions-go-unchecked/ |title=The Olympics show what happens when Putin’s transgressions go unchecked |date=2022-02-18 |author1=Max Boot |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/33368931/international-olympic-committee-urges-sports-bodies-cancel-events-russia-belarus | title=IOC pushes to cancel events in Russia, Belarus | date=25 February 2022 }}</ref>

== Environmental and health issues ==
=== Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ===
{{see also|COVID-19|COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic in China|List of athletes not attending the 2022 Winter Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns|COVID-19 cases at the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics}}
The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] resulted in changes in qualifying for [[Curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Qualification|curling]] and [[Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Women's qualification|women's ice hockey]] due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|cancellation of tournaments]] in 2020. The [[World Curling Federation]] proposed that qualification for curling be based on placement in the 2021 world championships and a dedicated qualification tournament to complete the field (in place of points earned across the 2020 and 2021 world championships). The IIHF based its qualification for the women's tournament upon existing [[IIHF World Ranking]]s, without holding the [[2020 IIHF Women's World Championship|2020 Women's World Championship]].<ref>{{cite news|date=9 April 2020|title=Curling wants 2021 world championships to determine qualifying for Beijing Olympics|first1=Devin |last1=Heroux|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/curling/world-curling-olympic-qualification-1.5527737|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814034727/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/curling/world-curling-olympic-qualification-1.5527737|archive-date=14 August 2020|access-date=4 May 2020|website=CBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=24 April 2020|title=U.S., Canada in same 2022 Olympic hockey group|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/04/24/u-s-canada-men-women-in-same-groups-for-2022-olympics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022130745/https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/04/24/u-s-canada-men-women-in-same-groups-for-2022-olympics/|archive-date=22 October 2020|access-date=4 May 2020|website=NBC Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Asian Winter Games]] was also not held before this Olympics, potentially affecting the qualifications for some athletes.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

On 23 December 2021, the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) announced it will not be sending players to the Games, citing health and safety concerns, and a need to use the timeframe of the Olympics to make up the large number of games postponed since December 2021 due to [[Omicron variant]].<ref name="BBC Sport">{{Cite news|title=NHL will not send players to Beijing|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/ice-hockey/59760792|access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|date=21 December 2021|title=NHL will not send players to Beijing Winter Olympics due to Covid-19|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/21/nhl-players-skipping-beijing-winter-olympics|access-date=23 December 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref name="cbsnews.com">{{cite web|title=NHL will not send players to Beijing Olympics, citing the COVID-19 surge|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/olympics-2022-nhl-hockey-not-participate/|access-date=23 December 2021|publisher=[[CBS News]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Insufficient snowfall ===
During the bidding process, critics questioned the Beijing bid, citing that the proposed outdoor venue sites do not have reliable snowfall in winter for snow sports. Concerns have been raised that snow may need to be transported to the venues at great cost and with uncertain environmental consequences.<ref name="theatlantic.com">Matt Schiavenza, "[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/07/a-winter-olympics-in-a-city-without-snow/400250/ A Winter Olympics in a City Without Snow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924045000/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/07/a-winter-olympics-in-a-city-without-snow/400250/|date=24 September 2019 }}", ''The Atlantic'', 31 July 2015</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">Tom Phillips, "[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/31/beijing-2022-winter-olympics-snow Beijing promises to overcome lack of snow for 2022 Winter Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619152046/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/31/beijing-2022-winter-olympics-snow|date=19 June 2016 }}", ''The Guardian'', 31 July 2015</ref>

=== Energy crisis ===
The [[2021 global energy crisis]] has intensified pressures on China ahead of the Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Analysis: China's green Winter Olympics 2022 to boost natural gas demand|url=https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/energy-transition/091521-analysis-chinas-green-winter-olympics-2022-to-boost-natural-gas-demand|work=[[S&P Global]]|date=15 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="Nikkei Asia">{{cite news|title=How China's energy crisis has sent commodity markets reeling|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Market-Spotlight/How-China-s-energy-crisis-has-sent-commodity-markets-reeling|work=Nikkei Asia|date=18 October 2021}}</ref> Al-Jazeera reported that "China’s energy crisis is partially of its own making as President Xi Jinping tries to ensure blue skies at the Winter Olympics in Beijing next February and show the international community he’s serious about [[Low-carbon economy|de-carbonizing]] the economy."<ref name="Al Jazeera">{{cite news|title=The next shock in the pipeline for China's economy: energy crunch|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/27/the-next-shock-in-the-pipeline-for-chinas-economy-energy-crunch|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=27 September 2021}}</ref>

===Impact on Songshan National Nature Reserve===
The environmental impact of hosting the Games near Beijing has been questioned. Some of the proposed venues will be adjacent to the [[Songshan National Nature Reserve]] and part of the same mountain system, and the environmental impact on the nature reserve of construction, and [[artificial snow|artificially]] covering parts of the mountain with snow, is uncertain.<ref name="Johnson">{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ian|date=9 April 2015|title=Scientists Question Environmental Impact of China's Winter Olympics|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/world/asia/water-intensive-beijing-olympic-bid-alarms-environmentalists.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307000204/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/world/asia/water-intensive-beijing-olympic-bid-alarms-environmentalists.html|archive-date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="SCMP Reporter">{{cite news|work=South China Morning Post|date=4 August 2015|title=Winter Olympic Games venues in China 'pose threat to Beijing nature reserve'|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1846273/winter-olympic-games-venues-china-pose-threat-beijing-nature|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807020823/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1846273/winter-olympic-games-venues-china-pose-threat-beijing-nature|archive-date=7 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite journal|last1=Cyranoski|first1=David|date=11 August 2015|title=Chinese biologists lead outcry over Winter Olympics ski site|journal=Nature|volume=524|issue=7565|pages=278–279|bibcode=2015Natur.524..278C|doi=10.1038/nature.2015.18174|pmid=26289189|doi-access=free}}</ref> The Government of China has responded to these concerns by expanding the nature reserve by 31% of its original size.<ref name="birdingbeijing.com">{{cite web|title=2022 Beijing Winter Olympics|url=http://birdingbeijing.com/2015/08/16/2022-beijing-winter-olympics-biodiversity-on-a-slippery-slope/|website=birdingbeijing.com|date=16 August 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033341/http://birdingbeijing.com/2015/08/16/2022-beijing-winter-olympics-biodiversity-on-a-slippery-slope/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Human rights issues ==

Concerns over China's human rights record have cast a shadow over Beijing's Olympic Games, including a diplomatic boycott over serious human rights abuses against [[Uyghurs]] and other Muslim minorities in the country. Rights experts stated that crackdowns on human rights defenders, which can range from closing social media accounts to enforced disappearances, were typical in the lead up to sensitive events in China, where the [[Chinese Communist Party]] kept a tight lid on dissent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/10/china/china-human-rights-beijing-olympics-intl-hnk/index.html|title=As the Olympics heat up, China clamps down on dissent|access-date=11 February 2022|website=CNN}}</ref>

=== Sportswashing ===
Critics say that the 2022 Winter Olympics is being used by the Chinese government for the purpose of [[sportswashing]], a practice by which a country uses sporting events to distract from human rights abuses or other issues.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Field |first1=Russell |title=2022 Winter Olympics will help Beijing 'sportwash' its human rights record |url=https://theconversation.com/2022-winter-olympics-will-help-beijing-sportwash-its-human-rights-record-154911 |website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |access-date=7 March 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307183158/https://theconversation.com/2022-winter-olympics-will-help-beijing-sportwash-its-human-rights-record-154911 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2022 [[Amnesty International]] warned the international community against participating in China's sportswashing efforts. According to Amnesty "China is hoping for sportswashing gold and it's vital that every effort is made to counteract that." Amnesty also criticized the IOC directly.<ref name="France 24">{{cite web |title=Amnesty warns over 'sportswashing' at Beijing Olympics |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220119-amnesty-warns-over-sportswashing-at-beijing-olympics |website=france24.com |date=19 January 2022 |publisher=France 24 |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>

According to [[Amnesty International]], Swedish Olympic champion [[Nils van der Poel]] gave his Beijing 2022 gold medal to the daughter of a [[Hong Kong]] dissident to protest the Chinese Government's devastating human rights record. He won the gold medal in men's 10,000 metre speed skating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/beijing-2022-olympic-skater-gives-away-gold-medal-protest-chinas-human-rights-abuses|title=Beijing 2022: Olympic skater gives away gold medal to protest China's human rights abuses|access-date=25 February 2022|website=Amnesty International}}</ref>

=== Athlete safety ===
Members of the American congress from both major parties have expressed concerns about athlete safety.<ref name="SCMP">{{cite web |last1=Churchill |first1=Owen |title=US lawmakers ask Joe Biden about steps to protect American Olympians in China |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3165030/us-lawmakers-ask-joe-biden-about-steps-protect-american-olympians-china |work=South China Morning Post |date=28 January 2022 |access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref> Retired Olympic cross-country skier [[Noah Hoffman]] has also expressed concerns about athlete safety citing China's human rights record and a lack of concern shown by the IOC.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Church |first1=Ben |title=Noah Hoffman: Former Olympic cross-country skier is 'scared' for athletes who speak out at Beijing 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/sport/noah-hoffman-beijing-2022-ioc-protest-spt-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>

===Athlete's freedom of speech===
In January 2022 the Beijing Organizing Committee warned that "Any behavior or speech that is against the Olympic spirit, especially against Chinese laws and regulations, are also subject to certain punishment."<ref name="China warns foreign Olympic athlete">{{cite news |last1=Dou |first1=Eva |title=China warns foreign Olympic athletes against speaking out on politics at Winter Games |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/01/19/china-winter-olympics-politics-speech/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=19 January 2022}}</ref>

Competitors have been warned by [[Human Rights Watch]] that speaking out is not tolerated in China and as a result if they speak out about human rights or other issues in China they face significant legal penalties. For their protection the American team has been shielded from question related to human rights.<ref name="Olympians told not to speak out">{{cite web |first1=Reuters |title=Olympians told not to speak out |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2022/01/20/2003771721 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=19 January 2022}}</ref>

Uyghur and Tibetan activists have encouraged athletes, sponsors, and other international participants in the games to use the platform to speak out on human rights.<ref name="espn.com">{{cite web |title=Activists urge athletes to speak out at Beijing Olympics |date=28 January 2022 |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/33165520/activists-urge-athletes-speak-beijing-olympics |publisher=ESPN |access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>

=== Protests ===
[[File:Demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy, Prague (4.2.2022) III.jpg|thumb|Demonstration in front of the [[Chinese embassy]], Prague (4.2.2022). The banner reads, "[[Artificial snow]], real genocide"]]
On 18 October 2021 activists from [[Free Tibet]] and [[Students for a Free Tibet]] disrupted the Olympic flame lighting ceremony at Olympia in Greece.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-10-18 |title=Beijing 2022: Protest staged at Winter Olympics torch lighting |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58954995 |access-date=2022-03-15}}</ref> Three people, Chemi Lhamo, Fern MacDougal and Jason Leith,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2021 |title=Protesters that disturbed Beijing 2022 Flame Lighting detained overnight |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1114348/protesters-set-to-be-detained-overnight |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref> were arrested and detained for several days.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/freetibetorg/status/1450040998592196611 |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> They were charged and their trial was set to occur immediately before the games opened but it was immediately adjourned and a new date set for 1 December 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 February 2022 |title=Trial of Beijing 2022 Lighting Ceremony protester given new date |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1119007/beijing-2022-protester-trial-date |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref>

In November 2021 activists held a 57-hour vigil outside the [[White House]] in Washington D.C.<ref name="NBC Chicago 2022">{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Noreen |title=Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers Join Together to Protest Beijing Olympics |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/uyghurs-tibetans-hong-kongers-join-together-to-protest-beijing-olympics/2741321/ |website=nbcchicago.com |publisher=NBC Chicago |access-date=31 January 2022}}</ref>

In January 2022 a protest against China's hosting of the games was held in Washington, D.C. outside the [[Embassy of China, Washington, D.C.|Chinese embassy]]. Attendees included civil rights activist [[Chen Guangcheng]] and New Jersey politician [[Chris Smith (New Jersey politician)|Chris Smith]]. Smith described the 2022 Olympics as the "Genocide Games."<ref name="Taiwan News">{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Liam |title=US Congressman Chris Smith joins China's 'Genocide Games' protest in Washington |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4424665 |work=Taiwan News |date=28 January 2022 |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>

To protest the games and China's human rights record the artist [[Badiucao]] created an NFT collection entitled "Beijing 2022 Olympic" which featured works mixing Olympic imagery with human rights messaging.<ref name="The Art Newspaper">{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Gareth |title=Badiucao launches NFT collection to protest against China's human rights record on eve of Beijing Winter Olympics |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/02/01/badiucao-launches-human-rights-protest-nft-collection-on-eve-of-beijing-winter-olympics |website=theartnewspaper.com |date=February 2022 |publisher=The Art Newspaper |access-date=1 February 2022}}</ref>

A number of athletes have stated that they would boycott the Olympics opening ceremony.<ref name="ReferenceE">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/02/olympic-athletes-preparing-boycott-opening-ceremony-winter-olympics-beijing/ |title=Opinion &#124; Olympic athletes are getting ready to boycott the opening ceremony in Beijing |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2022-02-02 |access-date=2022-02-16}}</ref>

On 4 February, a large protest against the games was held in Istanbul. Protesters included members of Turkey's Uyghur diaspora community.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Daren |title=Uyghurs in Turkey call for boycott as Beijing Games begin |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/uyghurs-turkey-call-boycott-beijing-games-begin-2022-02-04/ |website=Reuters.com |date=4 February 2022 |agency=Reuters |access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> Hundreds of people in several countries protested against China's repression of its Uyghur minority and Tibetans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2022/02/04/hundreds-worldwide-protest-chinas-human-rights-abuses-as-beijing-winter-olympics-kick-off/?sh=76c825ca6030|title=Hundreds Worldwide Protest China's Human Rights Abuses As Beijing Winter Olympics Kick Off|access-date=4 February 2022|website=Forbes}}</ref>

== Propaganda and information operations issues==
{{Further|Propaganda in China|Chinese information operations and information warfare|Wolf warrior diplomacy}}

=== Propaganda and information operations ===
The Chinese government's internet troll networks were mobilized before the Games to support government messaging. This has included campaigns of intimidation against human rights activists abroad. The Spamouflage network transitioned to primarily push Olympic messaging in December 2021.<ref name="Why the US Must Take China’s Disinf">{{cite web|last1=Yang|first1=Jianli|last2=Monaco|first2=Nick|title=Why the US Must Take China's Disinformation Operations Seriously|url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/why-the-us-must-take-chinas-disinformation-operations-seriously/|access-date=29 January 2022|website=thediplomat.com|publisher=The Diplomat}}</ref>

In the run up to the Olympics, the Chinese government deployed dozens of fake Twitter accounts to push the Government's position in the [[Peng Shuai]] scandal and the IOC's involvement.<ref name="Inside the Games">{{cite web|last1=Morgan|first1=Liam|title=Investigation reveals details of Chinese propaganda effort in Peng case|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1116593/china-fake-accounts-peng-shuai-claims|access-date=29 January 2022|website=insidethegames.biz|publisher=Inside the Games}}</ref> The ''New York Times'' and ''ProPublica'' identified a network of more than 3,000 inauthentic-looking Twitter accounts that appeared to be coordinating. Such accounts appeared to operate solely to amplify state media, as most of these accounts were recently created with very few followers, and their activity consisted solely of reposting China comments including from one account called "Spicy Panda" whose cartoons and videos rallied against the Olympic boycott.<ref name="propublica.org">{{cite web | url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-bots-and-fake-accounts-push-chinas-vision-of-winter-olympic-wonderland | title=How Bots and Fake Accounts Push China's Vision of Winter Olympic Wonderland }}</ref> A Twitter spokesperson said that hundreds of accounts included in the investigation's findings have since been suspended for violating the "platform manipulation and spam policy," which prohibits "coordinated activity that attempts to artificially influence conversations through the use of multiple accounts, fake accounts and automation."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-suspends-hundreds-of-bots-posting-chinese-olympic-propaganda-2022-2 | title=Twitter suspended hundreds of fake Chinese propaganda accounts that promoted the Beijing Olympics while glossing over human rights controversies | website=[[Business Insider]] }}</ref>

For the domestic audience, in what was described as a '“closed loop” of official propaganda, the state carefully [curated] almost anything ordinary Chinese people see or read...[to] the effect [it] has been an Olympics free of scandal or criticism or bad news".  For instance, a state media slide show devoted to the men's figure skating competition conspicuously omitted the gold medalist, [[Nathan Chen]] of the United States.<ref name="propublica.org"/>

===Censorship===
 
{{Further|Censorship in China|Internet censorship in China}}
Domestic Chinese criticism and debate on the potential environmental impacts caused by the Games are censored by the Chinese government on the press and internet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beijing named as host for 2022 Winter Olympics|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11490409|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823160349/http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4|archive-date=23 August 2013|access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="ibt">{{cite web|date=3 August 2015|title=Beijing Winter Olympics 2022's Environmental Impact Includes Nature Reserve Damage, Critics Say|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022s-environmental-impact-includes-nature-reserve-damage-2036501|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127075122/http://www.ibtimes.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022s-environmental-impact-includes-nature-reserve-damage-2036501|archive-date=27 January 2016|access-date=12 August 2015|work=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In recent years, censorship has been significantly stepped up. The government has banned, for example, [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Instagram]], and, since 2019, Wikipedia.<ref name="Wikipedia blocked in China in all l">{{cite news |title=Wikipedia blocked in China in all languages |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48269608 |work=BBC News |date=14 May 2019}}</ref>

The Citizen Lab report on the My2022 app (see below) discovered a "censorship keywords" list built into the app, and a feature that allows people to flag other "politically sensitive" expressions. The list of words included the names of Chinese leaders and government agencies, as well as references to the 1989 killing of pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, and the religious group Falun Gong.<ref name="bbc.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60034013|title=Winter Olympics: Athletes advised to use burner phones in Beijing|date=18 January 2022|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

==== Negative news censored during the games ====
On 28 January 2022, a few days before the opening ceremony, the [[Xuzhou chained woman incident]] was exposed on Chinese social media. Several media figures, including Han Song from the state-controlled [[Xinhua News Agency]] argued that people should be more concerned about the incident than the Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |author1=陳凱俊 |title=徐州婦栓鐵鍊連生8孩惹議 中國官媒高層：人口拐賣比冬奧更該關注 |url=https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20220207edi033/ |website=鏡週刊 |date=7 February 2022 |access-date=2022-02-08 |archive-date=2022-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209174515/http://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20220207edi033/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, to avoid any negative news that could divert the public's attention from the Olympics, Chinese news media outlets were order by authorities to avoid reporting such cases, with many social media posts related to the incident censored.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Jasmine |title=【徐州8孩事件】内地拐賣婦女事件掀輿論 新華社主任聲援言論被刪 |url=https://businessfocus.io/article/189015 |access-date=2022-02-23 |work=BusinessFocus |date=2022-02-07 |language=zh-Hant-HK}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=「八孩母」結婚證照判若兩人 再受質疑 |url=https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/article/20220216/s00013/1644949683886 |access-date=2022-02-26 |work=明報新聞網 |date=2022-02-16 |language=zh-hant}}</ref> Some people who tried to dig into the story by investigating the case in Feng County were even detained by the police.<ref>{{cite news|title=徐州鎖鏈女中國民間分頭查訪 有人能報導、有人被刑拘|url=https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2124539|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217144933/https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2124539|archive-date=2022-02-17|access-date=2022-02-17|language=zh}}</ref>

====Alleged suspension of US athlete's Twitter account====
US athlete [[Aaron Blunck]] alleged that he was [[Twitter suspensions|suspended]] by [[Twitter]] after he praised the [[2022 Beijing|2022 Beijing Olympics]]. He reposted a fan's comment that read: "Aaron Blunck [is] out here telling the truth and getting punished by his own government." He later also shared a commentator's tweet accusing the US government of causing his account to be shut down: "Twitter has executed the order of the Western ruling cabals... Punishment comes pretty fast." In his Instagram post, he tagged Twitter and asked: "What'd I do?"<ref name="scmp.com">https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167144/winter-olympics-us-skier-says-twitter-account-suspended-after-he {{Bare URL inline|date=April 2022}}</ref><ref name="yahoo.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/video/us-olympian-alleges-twitter-suspended-232134416.html | title=US Olympian alleges his Twitter was suspended after he praised China on 'stellar job' hosting Winter Games }}</ref>

However, it was revealed that the account had been suspended in September the previous year, over five months prior to the games. Twitter responded to the allegations saying that the account had been suspended in error and had since been recovered.<ref name="scmp.com"/>

===Espionage directed at athletes===
{{Further|Mass surveillance in China}}
China's espionage of athletes serves its political interests as well as addresses safety and COVID concerns. The [[smartphone app]] associated with the games, My2022, has been a particular subject of espionage concern.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eftimiades |first1=Nicholas |title=China's Espionage Plans for the 2022 Winter Olympics: What Athletes Should Expect |url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/chinas-espionage-plans-for-the-2022-winter-olympics-what-athletes-should-expect/ |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>

All attendees to the Games, including athletes, audience members, and media, are required to use the My2022 app purportedly for daily Covid monitoring. The cybersecurity group [[Citizen Lab]], a research institute at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, warned that the My2022 app fails to provide encryption on many of its files, and has security weaknesses that leave users exposed to [[data breach]]es. The Citizen Lab disclosed the concerns about the app on 3 December 2021, giving the organizing 15 days to respond and 45 days to fix the issues.  A new iOS version of MY2022 was released on 6 January 2022, which failed to fix these problems, while adding a new "Green Health Code", feature that collects more medical data and also lacks [[SSL certificate]] validation making it vulnerable to attacks.<ref name="ReferenceD">{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8519133/olympic-my2022-app-vulnerabilities-toronto-reaearch-lab-finds/|title=Toronto lab finds security vulnerabilities, censorship framework in Olympic MY2022 app &#124; Globalnews.ca|website=Global News}}</ref>

Numerous Olympic committees, including the [[British Olympic Association]], the [[Australian Olympic Committee]], [[Canadian Olympic Committee]], [[Dutch Olympic Committee|NOC*NSF]], and [[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee]], have recommended that attendees use [[burner phones]], [[virtual private networks]] (VPNs), and create email accounts for their time in China, while leaving personal smartphones and laptops at home.<ref name="bbc.com"/><ref name="cbc.ca">https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/beijing-olympic-app-security-1.6318925 {{Bare URL inline|date=January 2022}}</ref><ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2022/01/13/2022-olympics-china-athletes-warned-over-personal-phones-beijing/9198411002/|title=Olympic burner phones? Athletes warned about bringing personal devices to China for 2022 Beijing Games|first=Tom|last=Schad|website=USA Today}}</ref>

Cyber security firm Internet 2.0 has also warned of potential security risks during the Olympics, when it examined the technology sponsors of the Games and their products that show "the sophisticated and broad surveillance culture that exists in China". Internet 2.0 noted that "China's national data security laws are not designed with the Western values of [[privacy]] and liberty and do not offer the same level of protection" as the laws allow the government to request access to the user data captured by these products.<ref name="bbc.com"/>

=== Sjoerd den Daas incident ===
On 4 February 2022, a Chinese security guard dragged Dutch journalist [[Sjoerd den Daas]] away from his camera during a live broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/beijing-olympics-dutch-journalist-dragged-away-by-chinese-authorities-during-live-broadcast/|title=Dutch Journalist Dragged Away by Chinese Guard During Live Winter Olympics Broadcast|work=People|author=Katie Campione|date=4 February 2022|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=4 February 2022|title=The Latest: Dutch VJ manhandled during Olympic live shot|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/the-latest-german-figure-skater-tests-positive-for-covid-19/2022/02/03/39fad574-84af-11ec-951c-1e0cc3723e53_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> This forced den Daas to interrupt his broadcast. He was not harmed and was able to resume his broadcast elsewhere a few minutes later. It was not immediately clear why Chinese officials decided to forcibly move den Daas in the middle of his broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/reporter-sjoerd-den-daas-dragged-away-by-goons-at-beijing-games-opener?ref=scroll|title=Goons Drag Reporter Away on Live TV at Beijing Games Opening Ceremony|author=Jamie Ross|date=4 February 2022|work=Daily Beast|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref>

The IOC described the guard as "overzealous". The IOC's spokesperson said "These things do happen and I think it's a one-off. I hope it's a one-off and we will assure you that within the closed loop you will be able to carry on your work." den Daas criticized the IOC for portraying what had happened as an "isolated incident".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cole|first=Brendan|date=2022-02-05|title=Reporter covering Winter Olympics dragged away by Chinese officials live on air|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sjoerd-den-daas-winter-olympics-beijing-nos-1676546|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-06|title=Beijing Olympics: Dutch journalist interrupted on-air by Chinese official, IOC says 'one-off''|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/beijing-olympics-dutch-journalist-interrupted-on-air-by-chinese-official-ioc-says-oneoff-101644119785006.html|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> Yan Jiarong, spokeswoman for the Beijing Olympics, said "we welcome all the international media" and will protect their legal rights. According to his employer, the Dutch broadcaster [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]], the situation "is increasingly becoming a daily reality for journalists in China".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/video-dutch-journalist-manhandled-off-camera-by-guards-at-olympics-2022-2|title=A TV journalist was manhandled off camera by a guard while reporting live outside the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony|author=Barnaby Lane|work=Insider|date=4 February 2022|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref>

== Olympic torch relay ==
The choice of Qi Fabao, a [[People's Liberation Army]] commander who had been seriously injured after participating in the [[2020–2021 China–India skirmishes]], as one of the torchbearers has been controversial in India. As a result, India joined the diplomatic boycott of the games.<ref name="thediplomat.com">{{cite web|last1=Ramachandran|first1=Sudha|date=4 February 2022|title=India Joins Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics|url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/india-joins-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-winter-olympics/|access-date=3 February 2022|website=|publisher=The Diplomat}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shih |first1=Gerry |title=India joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics over role of Chinese soldier from border clash |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/03/olympics-india-china-torch-boycott/ |newspaper=Washington Post |date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

Amid human rights scrutiny, China chose a Uyghur athlete to help deliver the Olympic flame. For the final torch lighting, the Olympic flame was placed inside a giant snowflake in the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium by two athletes, Uyghur cross-country skier [[Dinigeer Yilamujiang]] from Xinjiang and Nordic combined competitor Zhao Jiawen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/592813-china-chooses-uyghur-athlete-to-deliver-olympic-flame-amid-human|title=China chooses Uyghur athlete to help deliver Olympic flame amid human rights scrutiny|access-date=4 February 2022|website=The Hill|date=4 February 2022}}</ref>

Kamaltürk Yalqun, a torchbearer in the 2008 Olympics of Uyghur descent, supported a full boycott of the 2022 games and heavily criticized the Chinese government's treatment of his people.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wu |first1=Huizhong |title=For Uyghur 2008 Torchbearer, China's Olympic Flame Has Gone Dark |url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/for-uyghur-2008-torchbearer-chinas-olympic-flame-has-gone-dark/ |website=thediplomat.com |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>

== Hanbok row ==
During the opening ceremony and the parade representing the 56 ethnic groups of China, one of the performers, reportedly representing [[Koreans in China|Korean Chinese]], wore a ''[[hanbok]]''.<ref name="News">{{cite web|title=S. Korea politicians criticize China over traditional dress|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/korea-politicians-criticize-china-traditional-dress-82690612|access-date=2022-02-08|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> The display of the ''hanbok'' has drawn criticism and anger among some South Koreans and their politicians, who accused China of misappropriating the country's traditional clothing.<ref name=yonhap2022>{{cite news |last=Yoo |first=Jee-ho |date=5 February 2022 |title=(Olympics) S. Koreans up in arms over depiction of hanbok as Chinese during opening ceremony |url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220205002100315?input=tw |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> [[Lee So-young (lawyer)|Lee So-young]], [[Member of Parliament|MP]] of the ruling [[Democratic Party of Korea]], said he regretted seeing the use of a ''hanbok'' during the ceremony. Presidential candidate [[Lee Jae-myung]] referred to it as [[cultural appropriation]]. The opposition [[People Power Party (South Korea)|People Power Party]] also called the move a "rude act" and urged the [[Moon Jae-in]] government to act tough on China.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 January 2022 |title=South Korea irked over 'Korean traditional dress' in Beijing Winter Games ceremony |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/south-korea-irked-over-korean-traditional-dress-beijing-winter-games-ceremony-2480956 |work=[[CNA (TV network)|CNA]] |access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref> [[Hwang Hee (politician)|Hwang Hee]], the South Korean [[Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism|Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism]], attended the ceremony while dressed in a ''hanbok'' himself.<ref name=yonhap2022 />

However, some South Koreans saw the ''hanbok''-wearing woman as a representation of the estimated 2 million ethnic Koreans living in China and felt that the reactions were unnecessary.<ref name="News"/> The Chinese Embassy in South Korea later responded that China respected the historical and cultural traditions of South Korea and that the ''hanbok'' belongs to ethnic Koreans everywhere, including those in China.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/chinese-embassy-defends-use-of-korean-dress-in-olympic-ceremony/47330482|title= Chinese Embassy defends use of Korean dress in Olympic ceremony|agency= Reuters|date=2022-02-08}}</ref>

==Accidents==
During training at the [[Yanqing National Sliding Centre]] in November 2021, Polish [[luge]]r [[Mateusz Sochowicz]] encountered a closed gate despite being given a green light. He suffered a fractured knee cap and a cut to the leg bone. The track team "didn't know what to do", and Sochowicz spent half an hour on the ice before being transported to surgery. Had he not taken evasive action during the run, the incident could have ended in "tragedy". At the [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010 Vancouver Winter Games]], Georgian luger [[Nodar Kumaritashvili]] was killed during training after he lost control and was thrown into a support pole. Following Sochowicz's injury, the [[International Luge Federation]] announced additional safety measures such as setting up "blockades at a start height" and installing a screen where lanes merge "to identify the exact position of the switch/barrier".<ref name=Reuters211108>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/olympics-2022-luge-sochowicz-idCNL4N2S00PX |title= Olympics-Polish luger says Beijing crash could have been 'tragedy' |website= reuters.com |date= 8 November 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220205065023/https://www.reuters.com/article/olympics-2022-luge-sochowicz-idCNL4N2S00PX |archive-date= 5 February 2022 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=Reuters211109>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/safety-measures-boosted-after-luge-crash-games-venue-federation-2021-11-10/ |title= Safety measures boosted after luge crash at Games venue: federation |website= reuters.com |date= 9 November 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211128020155/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/safety-measures-boosted-after-luge-crash-games-venue-federation-2021-11-10/ |archive-date= 28 November 2021 |url-status= live }}</ref>

== Taiwan athlete outfit row ==
In early 2022, [[Huang Yu-ting|Huang Yu-Ting]] garnered much controversy after a video that she posted on 23 January, went viral of her wearing an outfit labeled "China" during practice, and she was later criticised heavily by Taiwanese netizens, especially those with [[pan-green]] political views, who had flooded her Facebook and Instagram account with hate comments. In response, Huang claimed on Instagram that the outfit was a gift from an athlete who was on the Chinese team, whom she befriended in Germany. She also posted a [[Taylor Swift]] music video, "[[Shake It Off]]," which is famed for its lyrics, "Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate," and she wrote alongside the video, "My dear haters, this song is for you."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Beijing|first=Didi Tang|title=Beijing Winter Olympics: Taiwan skater Huang Yu-ting rebuked for Chinese outfit|newspaper=[[The Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/taiwan-skater-rebuked-for-wearing-chinese-uniform-fg5zhtljn|access-date=2022-02-05|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

Huang later removed the video post of her wearing the outfit, due to the social media backlash that came afterwards. According to a translation by the ''South China Morning Post'', Huang separately made a post on Facebook where she wrote, "Thank you to everyone who cheered me up...I have removed the video due to too many unnecessary private messages!..."Sport is sport and in the world of sports, we do not differentiate between nationalities. After the Games, we all are good friends."<ref name=insider2022>{{Cite web|last=Lane|first=Barnaby|title=A Taiwanese Olympic speed skater sparked outrage by practicing in a China uniform, then brushed it off by quoting Taylor Swift|url=https://www.insider.com/taiwanese-speed-skater-huang-yu-ting-seen-wearing-china-uniform-2022-2|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Insider|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Ho Chih-wei]], a [[Legislative Yuan]] member of the ruling [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP) criticised Huang Yu-Ting, calling her "brainless" and demanding that she "shut up", as well as supporting a law that would punish athletes such as Huang with bans from sport events.<ref>https://www.bg3.co/a/huang-yu-ting-shi-jian-yan-shao-he-zhi-wei-hong-mei-nao-dai-zhi-hui-liu-bing-huang-guo-shu-pao-xiu-fa-zhu-zhang.html {{Bare URL inline|date=April 2022}}</ref> Taiwan Premier [[Su Tseng-chang]] from the ruling DPP called for an investigation and punishment for Huang.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/33333449/taiwan-premier-wants-speedskater-punished-wearing-china-suit | title=Premier wants skater punished for China outfit | date=20 February 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://nypost.com/2022/02/20/2022-olympics-taiwan-premier-wants-skater-punished-for-china-suit/ | title=Taiwan premier wants 2022 Olympics speedskater punished for wearing Chinese suit | date=20 February 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202202210013#:~:text=Taipei%2C%20Feb.%2021%20(CNA,(%E6%BD%98%E6%96%87%E5%BF%A0)%20said%20Monday. | title=Taiwan to punish Olympian skater over 'repeated inappropriate remarks' - Focus Taiwan }}</ref>

National identity is a highly sensitive issue in Taiwan. After the communist forces won the [[Chinese Civil War]], the mainland was not represented at the Olympics, and the only Chinese team competing came from Taiwan. After most nations and the UN switched their recognition to Beijing, however, Taiwan has been competing as [[Chinese Taipei]].<ref name=insider2022 /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title=Taiwan Olympic speed skater draws ire for donning China team outfit |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165719/winter-olympics-taiwan-speed-skater-draws-ire-home-donning-china-team |work=South China Morning Post |date=3 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Participation of women==
[[Nordic combined]] remained the only Winter discipline that women could not compete in, with World Cup champion [[Tara Geraghty-Moats]] quoted as saying, "The IOC (International Olympic Committee) lets transgendered people into the Olympics in all sports, but not women into all sports." The [[International Ski Federation]] has said that it has been developing women's Nordic combined and intends for it to be added to the Olympic programme in the future. A previous request was rejected in 2018. According to the IOC, female quota positions for the 2022 Winter Games increased from 41 per cent to 45.44 per cent.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Mitch|title=Nordic combined-Women still frozen out in Olympic anomaly|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/nordic-combined-women-still-frozen-out-olympic-anomaly-2022-02-07/|work=Reuters|date=7 February 2022|language=en|access-date=8 February 2022|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208231433/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/nordic-combined-women-still-frozen-out-olympic-anomaly-2022-02-07/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Sporting controversies ==
By the end of the Beijing Olympics, a total five athletes were reported for doping violations.<ref>Yahoo Sport Australia, "Spanish skater caught in shock new scandal after Winter Olympics." Sam Goodwin, 22 February 2022. [https://au.sports.yahoo.com/winter-olympics-2022-spanish-skater-fresh-doping-storm-195328933.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANGTb8Utg5Vkphu5PDMy3r4R8NVaj5E0gOiXTCa_wGhyNWALiHwUfYyQ-E6EGE6_ETsO01JhPf0zfwVOKKn1k3AgPgSWs9ankmurF0Xl4QEiRnl0fUMk585Uh5XjkFBqbpv1zhG24nUQ4rHZdLuOWop8PUXH6eJ07fGpV6Ebl44V]</ref>

===Mixed team ski jumping normal hill event===
During the [[Ski jumping at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Mixed team|mixed team normal hill event]] of ski jumping, the previous Olympic medalists, [[Daniela Iraschko-Stolz]] of Austria, [[Katharina Althaus]] of Germany, and [[Sara Takanashi]] of Japan, as well as the former [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships|world championship]] medalists [[Anna Odine Stroem]] and [[Silje Opseth]] of Norway were all disqualified prior to the start due to the concern that their jumpsuits were not tight enough.<ref name="NBC">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/five-athletes-disqualified-mixed-team-ski-jumping-event-suits-rcna15457|title=Five athletes disqualified from mixed team ski jumping event over suits.|first=|last=Reuters|newspaper=NBC News|date=8 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="SI">{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2022/02/09/winter-olympics-ski-jumping-disqualifications-jumpsuits|title=Five Olympic Ski Jumpers Disqualified Due to Concerns Over Jumpsuits.|first=Dan|last=Lyons|newspaper=Sports Illustrated|date=9 February 2022}}</ref> According to the officials at the event, jumpsuits had to fit tight enough to not yield the advantage over air, which was part of the newly updated [[International Ski Federation]] (FIS) regulations.<ref name="SI" /> The Japanese, Austrian, Norwegian, and German teams all suffered the heavy impact as their disqualified athletes automatically received 0 point for failing to make an attempt, which placed the four teams in fourth, fifth, eight, and ninth place respectively, while the Russian and Canadian teams capitalized on that and won silver and bronze medals respectively.

After the game, Althaus expressed her dissatisfaction with the disqualification, emphasizing that she wore the same jumpsuit which was approved for the [[Ski jumping at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Women's normal hill individual|individual normal hill event]] that took place two days before.<ref name="NBC" /> [[Clas Brede Bråthen]], the former ski jumper and manager of the Norwegian team who had the two team members disqualified, also raised the complaint, claiming the event as one of the sport's darker days. Bråthen added that "this is something we should have cleaned up in before the Olympics".<ref name="SI" />  After her disqualification, Opseth also said "I am just shocked. I do not understand anything about what happened today".<ref name="NBC" /> Takanashi deeply apologized for her suit violation as the Japanese team could have been in the medal zone if it was not for her disqualification.<ref name="NBC" /> After the controversy, Aga Baczkowska from FIS told the Norway's media [[NRK]] that the inspections at the event followed the new regulation. Baczkowska stated that it was the responsibility of the participating athletes to ensure that their jumpsuits were in compliance.<ref name="SI" />

=== Mixed team 2000 metre short-track speed-skating event===
In the semi final heat of the [[Short track speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Mixed 2000 metre relay|2000 metre mixed team relay]] in short-track speed-skating, the United States was disqualified after narrowly finishing in the second place behind Hungary. This allowed the Chinese team, who came in third, to claim the second place and advance to the finals to eventually win the gold medal.<ref name="Schad">{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/05/team-usa-mixed-relay-speedskating-disqualified-china-wins-gold/6674558001/|title=Team USA disqualified after review, allowing China to win Olympic gold in mixed team short track relay.|first=Tom|last=Schad|newspaper=USA Today|date=5 February 2022}}</ref> According to the officials at the event, the team was disqualified for causing the "interference inside the track with skaters coming in to take an exchange" upon the replay review.<ref name="Schad" /> [[Ryan Pivirotto]], the skater who was identified as the cause of the penalty, stated "The call came to me, on what I did. I don't even know really what I did, because there was no contact".<ref name="Schad" /> [[Maame Biney]], who was representing the United States in the Olympics but did not participate in the relay,  found the decision to be an "interesting call".<ref name="Schad" /> [[Andrew Heo]], another member of the relay team, said "Obviously things didn't work out, but I think we believe that we belonged there. And I think we could've done really well in the final".<ref name="Schad" />

=== Men's 1000 metre short-track speedskating event ===
During the Heat 1 of the semi-finals in the [[Short track speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres|men's 1000 metres short track speedskating event]], [[Hwang Dae-heon]] of South Korea was disqualified after finishing first, which was followed in the Heat 2 by his countryman [[Lee June-seo]] being disqualified for a lane change that caused contact. As a result of their disqualifications, [[Li Wenlong (speed skater)|Li Wenlong]] and [[Wu Dajing]] of China advanced to the Final A race. In the Final A race, [[Shaolin Sándor Liu]] from Hungary was disqualified after crossing the finish line first, ultimately resulting in [[Ren Ziwei]] and Li Wenlong of China who finished after Liu to be awarded with the gold and silver medal, respectively. After the event, both the South Korean and the Hungarian team filed protests to the [[International Skating Union]].<ref name="houston1">{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1118970/south-korea-cas-refereeing-short-track|title=South Korea to appeal to CAS over short track refereeing at Beijing 2022|last=Houston|first=Michael|date=8 February 2022|website=Inside the Games|publisher=Dunsar Media Ltd.|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/sports/olympics/south-korea-speedskaters-appeal-china.html|title=South Korea appeals the disqualification of two short-track speedskaters.|first1=Jin Yu|last1=Young|first2=Kevin|last2=Draper|newspaper=The New York Times|date=8 February 2022}}</ref>
   
The [[International Skating Union]] (ISU) received and rejected the two protests from Hungary and South Korea on February 7, 2022. The ISU stated that the decisions in regards to any disqualification for rule violations cannot be challenged, adding that their Chief Referee had reviewed the incident with the Video Referee and stood by the final decisions.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.isu.org/isu-news/news/145-news/13972-isu-statement-isu-short-track-speed-skating-men-1000m-competition?templateParam=15|title=ISU Statement - Short Track Speed Skating Men 1000m competition at Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games - International Skating Union|website=International Skating Union}}</ref> According to the ISU, Hwang Dae-heon was disqualified for the "illegal late pass causing contact" while the disqualification of Shaolin Sándor Liu was due to a "straight lane change from inside to out causing contact" and an "arm block at the finish".<ref name="auto1"/> The [[Korean Sport & Olympic Committee]] later filed an official appeal to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]].<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="houston1"/>

=== Women's 500 metre short-track speed-skating event===
After the close-up video of the incident surfaced on [[Reddit]],<ref name="Insider">{{Cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/video-fans-accuse-chinese-skater-of-deliberately-taking-out-opponent-2022-2|title=Fans accused a Chinese racer of deliberately taking out her opponent in the latest Olympic speed skating controversy.|first=Barnaby|last=Lane|newspaper=Insider|date=10 February 2022}}</ref> some viewers of the quarter-finals in the [[Short track speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Women's 500 metres|women's 500 metres short track speedskating event]] noticed and accused the Chinese skater [[Fan Kexin]] of reaching over the leg of another competitor to flick a track marker at the Canadian skater [[Alyson Charles]], which seemingly caused Charles to trip and crash along with Fan during the race.<ref name="Global News">{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8603600/chinese-speedskater-kexin-fan-cheating-tripping-alyson-charles/|title=Olympics fans accuse Chinese speed skater of tripping Canadian opponent.|first=Michelle|last=Butterfield|newspaper=Global News|date=8 February 2022}}</ref> While no call was made on the incident, Charles was advanced to the semi finals after it was assessed that she was impeded by another Canadian skater [[Florence Brunelle]] who got disqualified. Fan, who came in third after the crash, failed to advance.<ref name="Global News" />

===Men's 5000 metres relay short-track speed skating event===
During the [[Short track speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metre relay|5000 metres relay event]], also in short track speed skating, in the semifinals of the event, the Chinese team fell with 10 laps to go. This happened at a point in the race where [[Pascal Dion]] (from Canada) and a Chinese skater had their skates come into contact.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/short-track-star-hamelin-course-142210057.html|title=Short-track star Hamelin on course for 6th Olympic medal as men's relay team advances|date=11 February 2022|agency=[[Canadian Press]]|website=www.sports.yahoo.com|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> The team was advanced to the A final, with no team disqualified during the race. The Chinese team were advanced, even though they finished last in the race and there was no impeding action on the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics-chinese-mens-short-track-relay-team-advances-final-on-judge-ruling-confusion-132757145.html|title=Confusion reigns after Chinese men's short track relay team advances on judge ruling|last=Negley|first=Cassandra|date=11 February 2022|website=www.sports.yahoo.com|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|access-date=11 February 2022|archive-date=12 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212214718/https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics-chinese-mens-short-track-relay-team-advances-final-on-judge-ruling-confusion-132757145.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Men's snowboard slopestyle ===
In the men's [[Snowboarding at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's slopestyle|snowboard slopestyle]], Canada's [[Max Parrot]] had won the gold medal and China's [[Su Yiming]] won the silver. However the medal results stirred controversy on social media when BBC commentator [[Ed Leigh]] believed the gold medal should have been awarded to Su, and pointed out that Parrot, during his frontside 1440 in his second run, had actually committed a 'cardinal sin' by grabbing his knee instead of the board, and should have been deducted for it, but the judges had apparently failed to spot it. Replays showed him "failing to grab his board and instead clutching around his lower leg, meaning that the maneuver was incomplete and should have been marked down. Leigh wrote in the BBC, "The judges have put execution at such a premium that something like that should have cost him two or three points. So the gold has gone wrong there. ... I think Su Yiming actually took the gold there. This is a mistake on the judges' part."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Canada's Parrot takes slopestyle gold after judging error|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/winter-olympics/60285475|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Winter Olympics: China's Su Yiming denied snowboard slopestyle gold by 'glaring judging error', BBC commentator says|url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/sport/other/winter-olympics-china-s-su-yiming-denied-snowboard-slopestyle-gold-by-glaring-judging-error-bbc-commentator-says/ar-AATzhCd|access-date=2022-02-08|website=MSN|language=en-SG}}</ref>

Moreover, bronze medalist [[Mark McMorris]] felt he had the best run of the day, and should have been the gold medalist, "but knowing that I kind of had the run of the day and one of the best rounds of my life and the whole industry knows what happened". Parrot, acknowledged the error and still felt like he deserved the gold medal, "But in the end, it's a judged sport and the fact is I had the most technical run of the day on pretty much every feature". Lead judge for the event, Iztok Sumatic said, "there are so many factors. All I can say, in Max's defence, regarding this specific run, is that it was still an insane run. He killed it, especially on the rails." Ultimately the blame lay with the [[Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|organiziers]], who failed to provide multiple angles of the event.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dichter|first=Myles|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/snowboard/snowboard-parrot-mcmorris-judging-controversy-1.6347681|title='I had the run of the day': McMorris slams scoring in snowboard event won by fellow Canadian Parrot|date=11 February 2022|website=www.cbc.ca/|publisher=[[CBC Sports]]|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> Parrot reviewed the runs by the three medalists and, "he spotted three "little mistakes" during McMorris' turn, and also noted a few errors by Su", while Parrot, "didn't have any mistakes on five of the six features, and on the one jump, I had a bigger mistake".<ref>{{cite news|last=Seiner|first=Jake|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/snowboard/snowboard-parrot-mcmorris-apology-1.6349463|title='I had the run of the day': McMorris slams scoring in snowboard event won by fellow Canadian Parrot|date=12 February 2022|website=www.cbc.ca/|publisher=[[CBC Sports]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

=== Men's snowboard halfpipe ===
Public outrage was sparked by the controversially low judgment of Japanese snowboarder [[Ayumu Hirano|Ayumu Hirano's]] second run scoring which had made commentators and fans cry "foul" on the judges.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Matthey|first=James|date=2022-02-11|title='Should be arrested': Olympic scandal erupts|work=news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/winter-olympics/should-be-ashamed-aussie-caught-in-middle-of-shocking-olympic-robbery/news-story/b25e7add307b32b07f1ac3e6747038c3|access-date=2022-02-12}}</ref> Hirano then had to repeat the exceptional performance in his third run, and successfully landing the very "dangerous" triple cork again, this time under greater public scrutiny of the judges, and moving from second place to winning the gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|date=2022-02-11|title='Just grenaded their credibility': Olympic judges saved after snub of Ayumu Hirano's 'best ever run'|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/beijing-olympics-2022/beijing-winter-olympics-2022-judging-controversy-in-snowboard-halfpipe-final-ayunu-hirano-robbed-in-second-run-reaction-scotty-james/news-story/aa48c89e092d137f11f7d235883510d2|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Fox Sports|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What Is Triple Cork in Snowboarding? Olympic Halfpipe Flips, Twists Explained|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/beijing-winter-olympics/what-is-triple-cork-in-snowboarding-olympic-halfpipe-flips-twists-explained/3542695/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=NBC New York|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Men's speed skating 500 metres ===
In the men's [[Speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres|500 metres speed skating event]], a false start was called in the last two heats, one of which included current [[2021–22 ISU Speed Skating World Cup|World Cup]] champion [[Laurent Dubreuil]]. This was questioned by [[1992 Winter Olympics]] Champion [[Bart Veldkamp]], who called it "very suspicious".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2022/02/12/jury-veroorzaakt-ophef-met-valse-start-voor-canadese-topfavoriet-heel-verdacht~1644666526044/|title=Jury veroorzaakt ophef met "valse start" voor Canadese topfavoriet: "Heel verdacht"|trans-title=Jury causes controversy with "false start" for Canadian top favorite: "Very suspicious"|language=Dutch|date=12 February 2022|website=www.sporza.be|publisher=[[Sporza]]|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> According to Yetta Claytone of the Taylor Daily Press, due to the false start, Dubreuil had to be more cautious on his start, and his reaction time was slower than the initial start.<ref name=a>{{cite news|last=Claytone|first=Yetta|date=12 February 2022|title=The jury makes a fuss with 'false start' for Canadian top candidates: 'Extremely fishy' Winter Games|url=https://www.taylordailypress.net/the-jury-makes-a-fuss-with-false-start-for-canadian-top-candidates-extremely-fishy-winter-games/|work=[[Taylor Daily Press]]|location=Taylor, Texas, United States|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> According to Sportnieuws.nl, a false start would have disrupted the athletes' concentration, and also used up energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportnieuws.nl/schaatsen/bart-veldkamp-vertrouwt-500-m-zege-tingyu-gao-niet-2-hele-twijfelachtige-valse-starts/|trans-title=Bart Veldkamp does not trust Tingyu Gao 500 m victory: '2 very doubtful false starts'|title=Bart Veldkamp vertrouwt 500 m-zege Tingyu Gao niet: '2 hele twijfelachtige valse starts'|language=Dutch|date=12 February 2022|website=www.sportnieuws.nl|publisher=[[Sportnieuws]]|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> However, Dubreuil believed the false start shouldn't be used as an excuse as it was, "something that's totally possible to overcome and that it shouldn't make a difference".<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian speedskater Laurent Dubreuil edged off Olympic 500-metre podium in fourth|url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/canadian-speedskater-laurent-dubreuil-edged-135722451.html|access-date=2022-02-13|website=ca.sports.yahoo.com|language=en-CA}}</ref>

===Figure skating===
The medal ceremony for the [[Figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Team event|figure skating team event]], originally scheduled for Tuesday, 8 February, was delayed over what [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) spokesperson Mark Adams described as a situation that required "legal consultation" with the [[International Skating Union]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 February 2022|title=Olympic medals in team figure skating delayed by legal issue|url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-figure-skating-sports-international-olympic-committee-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-c49077705737be8a7d41a2847c2f355b|access-date=9 February 2022|website=[[The Associated Press|AP News]]|language=en}}</ref> Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that the issue was over a positive test, held in December 2021, for [[trimetazidine]] by the ROC's [[Kamila Valieva]],<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Tétrault-Farber|first1=Gabrielle|last2=Axon|first2=Iain|last3=Grohmann|first3=Karolos|date=9 February 2022|title=Figure skating-Russian media say teen star tested positive for banned drug|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/figure-skating-medals-ceremony-delayed-over-legal-consultation-2022-02-09/|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/09/olympic-figure-skating-team-medals-delayed-russian-drug-test/6717526001/|title=Positive drug test by Russian Kamila Valieva has forced a delay of Olympic team medals ceremony|first=Christine|last=Brennan|author-link=Christine Brennan|website=[[USA Today]]|date=9 February 2022}}</ref> which was officially confirmed on February 11. The results are pending investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/60329120|title=Valieva failed drugs test confirmed|date=11 February 2022|website=BBC Sport|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> The [[Russian Anti-Doping Agency]] (RUSADA), previously under suspension from the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] (WADA) since 2015<ref>{{cite news |last=Faloyin |first=Dipo |title=WADA Suspends Russia's Anti-Doping Agency |date=19 November 2015 |work=[[Newsweek]] |url=http://europe.newsweek.com/wada-suspends-russias-anti-doping-agency-non-compliance-396283?rm=eu |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref> for its years of serving solely to hide the positive doping results of Russian athletes (re-instated in September 2018),<ref>"Wada lifts Russia’s three-year doping suspension and faces its biggest crisis". By Sean Ingle. The Guardian. Sept 20, 2018. [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/20/wada-crisis-lifts-russia-suspension-anti-doping]</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Bonnie D. |last=Ford |title=Takeaways from McLaren Report? Confusion, corruption, cynicism |date=18 July 2016 |work=[[ESPN]] |url = http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/17100024/takeaways-mclaren-report-confusion-corruption-cynicism |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Maggie |last=Hendricks |title=The damning McLaren Report on Russian Olympic doping, explained |date=18 July 2016 |work=[[USA Today]] |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/the-damning-mclaren-report-on-russian-olympic-doping-explained |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> cleared Valieva on February 9, a day after the December test results were released, two months after the test. The IOC, WADA, and [[International Skating Union]] (ISU) are appealing RUSADA's decision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/sport/kamila-valieva-roc-drugs-test-olympics-spt-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Russian anti-doping agency allowed Kamila Valieva to compete in Olympics despite failed drug test|website=Cnn.com|date=11 February 2022 |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref>

On February 14, the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) ruled that Valieva should be allowed to compete in the women's single event, deciding that preventing her from competing "would cause her irreparable harm in the circumstances", though her gold medal in the team event was still under consideration. The favorable decision from the court was made in part due to her age, as minor athletes are subject to different rules than adult athletes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-14|title=Russian skater Kamila Valieva cleared to compete at Olympics|url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-kamila-valieva-doping-decision-0dd063b5092681697525b69cd0c7212d|access-date=2022-02-14|website=Apnews.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/CAS_Ad_Hoc_Media_Release_Beijing_8.pdf|title=THE CAS AD HOC DIVISION DECLINES TO IMPOSE A PROVISIONAL SUSPENSION ON THE RUSSIAN FIGURE SKATER KAMILA VALIEVA|website=Tas-cas.org|access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref> The IOC announced that the medal ceremony would not take place until the investigation is over and there is a concrete decision whether to strip Russia of their medals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-eb-decides-no-medal-ceremonies-following-cas-decision-on-the-case-of-roc-skater|title=IOC EB decides no medal ceremonies following CAS decision on the case of ROC skater|website=Olympics.com|access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref>

By 9 March 2022, [[Travis Tygart]] of the [[USADA]] reported that Valieva had not requested that her "B" sample be tested, apparently accepting the results of initial testing and relying on her explanation that the banned substance TMZ belonged to her grandfather and only accidentally contaminated or became mixed into her own use of allowed nutrients and supplements. Tygart further stated that as a minor Valieva could still be either fully exculpated or given a warning concerning her testing positive depending on the extent of findings in the on-going [[RUSADA]] investigation of doping. According to Tygart, an adverse finding against her as a first offense could still be assessed as a two-year suspension, which is half of the suspension time which could be assessed for adults.<ref>"Interview with Travis Tygart (USADA, Kamila Valieva Doping, Russian Doping)". The Skating Lesson. March 7, 2022. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q52SeSRjB1E]</ref>

===Men's Mass Start===
The U.S. speedskater [[Joey Mantia]] alleged that the South Korean speedskater [[Lee Seung-hoon]] made contact by pulling his arm back, costing him the bronze medal during the [[Speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's mass start|Mass Start]] final. Mantia lost by a 0.002-second margin.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/19/joey-mantia-photo-finish-beijing-olympics/6859615001/ | title='Cheated a little bit': Photo finish in wild men's speedskating race leaves Joey Mantia off podium | website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref><ref name="msn">{{cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/cheated-a-little-bit-photo-finish-in-wild-men-s-speedskating-race-leaves-joey-mantia-off-podium/ar-AAU43Yp | title='Cheated a little bit': Photo finish in wild men's speedskating race leaves Joey Mantia off podium | website=[[MSN]] }}</ref><ref name="yahoo">{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/american-speed-skater-loses-medal-by-thousandth-of-a-second-101719003.html | title=American speed skater loses medal by thousandth of a second }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/19/joey-mantia-mass-start-speedskating-beijing-olympics/ |title=In his final Olympic event, Joey Mantia missed a medal — by 0.002 seconds |date=2022-02-22 |orig-date=2022-02-19 |author1=Roman Stubbs |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}}</ref> According to Mantia, he felt contact and told his coach "He got me" after the race.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Mantia recalled "Coming up on him, I thought my blade was in front of his, and then he put his back in front of mine. I don't know if there was contact ... it felt like maybe a little bit, maybe not on purpose, but it happens."<ref name="yahoo" /> When asked if he made the contact with Mantia, Lee said he could not remember since he was flustered during the final moment at the finish line.<ref name="msn" /> Mantia and his coaches watched the replay several times, and protested that he had been pulled back at the finish line. However, the team did not expect any changes to the result because the Mass Final is a new event with minimal precedent for rules.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/19/sports/panel-denies-us-figure-skaters-appeal-get-olympic-team-silver-medals/ | title=Panel denies US figure skaters' appeal to get Olympic team silver medals - the Boston Globe | website=[[The Boston Globe]] }}</ref> The United States team lodged a challenge, but Lee was awarded with the bronze medal.<ref name="yahoo" />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Olympic Games controversies}}

[[Category:2022 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic Games controversies|*2022]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of China]]
[[Category:Human rights in China]]
[[Category:Political controversies in China]]