INTERNATIONAL: International Olympic Committee President Spokesman Mark Adams has issued a statement on United States decision to hold a political boycott of Beijing Olympics 2022. He adds that it is a political domain, it is a political decision, which the committee respect their right to take that decision. But what it also shows is that they respect the right of the athletes to take part in the Olympics Games and for him, that's very important. 173 nations were co-signatories of the 193 countries. It was adopted by consensus and the words clearly says how important the role of the Olympic Game in building bridges and bringing countries together, recognised by consensus by the world, by the world's politicians.
It is very clear that many countries support the aims of the Olympics Games and they understand that IOC is hoping beyond politics and that it can use that role of being politically neutral to bring the world able to adapt rapidly to changing conditions. IOC has a very powerful team, they have done all the rehearsals and all the possible situations. They have prepared for any possible contingency, and they believe that in the closed loop management system that we are going to all be living, we can cope and deal with, the system can cope with mostly everything that can happen in the world."
IOC’s Chair of Coordination Commission for Beijing 2022, Juan Antonio Samaranch says the Games, to be successful, they have to be safe, so it will be extremely safe. The closed loop management system will be extremely safe if the current situation needs to be changed, the committee made sure they will adapt this year via all the protocols for adapting to whatever happens already. Above everything, these Games, from a Covid perspective, will be extremely safe. He said the U.N.'s recent adoption of an Olympic Truce resolution for Beijing 2022 proved countries around the world were backing the Olympics.
Meanwhile Adams defended the IOC's handling of the issue of Peng Shuai, the tennis player who alleged sexual assault against a leading Chinese Communist Party politician, and Samaranch further announces there were no current circumstances under which the winter Olympics may be cancelled due to Covid.
