Denmark official representatives to stay away from Beijing Winter Olympics
Denmark's government has confirmed it will not send any official representative to the Beijing Winter Olympics due to the human rights situation in China.
"The government has decided that we will not take part in the Winter Olympics in China... It is no secret that we, in Denmark, are very concerned by the human rights situation in China," Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told AFP in a statement on Friday.
Danish athletes will however compete in the games to start next month.
They "can count on the total support of the government. And we will cheer them on as we always do -- but from home, not from the bleachers of Beijing," Kofod added.
The United States, Canada, Australia and Britain have already announced a diplomatic boycott of the games.
Advocacy groups have backed the US-led effort, with Human Rights Watch's China director Sophie Richardson calling it a "crucial step toward challenging the Chinese government's crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic communities."
Comments
See Also
"The government has decided that we will not take part in the Winter Olympics in China... It is no secret that we, in Denmark, are very concerned by the human rights situation in China," Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told AFP in a statement on Friday.
Danish athletes will however compete in the games to start next month.
They "can count on the total support of the government. And we will cheer them on as we always do -- but from home, not from the bleachers of Beijing," Kofod added.
The United States, Canada, Australia and Britain have already announced a diplomatic boycott of the games.
Advocacy groups have backed the US-led effort, with Human Rights Watch's China director Sophie Richardson calling it a "crucial step toward challenging the Chinese government's crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic communities."
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.