About two months before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, the competition for the right to participate in each competition will become even more fierce toward the year-end and New Year holidays. Figures, speed skating, ski jumping, snowboarding … I’m looking forward to the activities of Japanese people.
The Tokyo Olympics held this summer were held without spectators. Beijing also does not accept spectators from overseas, but it is said that it will accept domestic spectators. Although the details have not been decided, expectations are high that if there are spectators, the atmosphere will be more “Olympic” than in Tokyo.
“Diplomatic boycott” is a topic that is talked about every day to blow away such a “festival mood”. It protests the Chinese government’s infringement of human rights in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the suppression of democratization in Hong Kong.
When US President Joe Biden said he was “considering” on the 18th, it was revealed that Britain and Australia are also considering it. Already in July, the European Union (EU) has adopted a resolution calling on member states to decline invitations to China’s government representatives.
On the 24th, Sanae Takaichi, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, said that Japan should make its own judgment. On the 25th, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said, “We will make a decision at an appropriate time by comprehensively considering various circumstances.” Along with Japan-China relations, the judgments of the United States and the United Kingdom will also have an effect.
I remember the “boycott” of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Western countries such as the United States decided not to participate in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Japan also canceled the dispatch of athletes.
On TV and newspapers, Judo player Yasuhiro Yamashita and wrestling player Yuji Takada complained in tears. The dreams of many players have disappeared. It is an unforgettable “negative” history for the Japanese sports world.
However, this time it has not developed into a story of canceling the dispatch of athletes. Boycott is only “diplomatic” and does not deprive the players of their playing field. Of course, there are some hard-line opinions about canceling the dispatch of athletes, but it is unlikely that something similar to the Moscow Games will occur.
Personally, it feels strange for the leaders of each country to line up at the VIP seats at the opening ceremony. The tournament belongs to athletes, and the protagonist should also be an athlete. If you want to take a lot of VIP space on the stand, you can increase the number of seats for the audience. If a few VIPs are absent, many children can be invited.
The number of people involved in each country who attended the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics was much smaller than in past competitions. This is because many countries abandoned attendance in consideration of the spread of the new coronavirus.
The “diplomatic boycott” involves complex political speculation. Each country is at a loss. The Chinese side has also argued that it will be a political use of the Olympics. If so, I think I should be absent from the opening ceremony because of the spread of the new corona infection.
Certainly, I don’t want to see the opening ceremony in which China, which has human rights problems, invites VIPs from all over the world to “raise national prestige.” I want to see the athletes who are competing for the top of the world, and I want to be impressed by their dynamics.
I’m not saying that all “Olympic diplomacy” is not necessary. The idea of the Olympics is world peace. “Diplomatic” for that purpose may be welcomed. However, I want you to create an environment where athletes can concentrate on the competition regardless of the circumstances in each country. Even for free, the special situation of the new Corona Severe. It is better to have as little noise as possible.[Koichi Ogishima](Nikkan Sports.com / reporter column “OGGI’s Oh! Olympic”)
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