Premier Li Qiang said China wishes to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to resist sports politicization amid calls for the IOC to ban Russian athletes after the invasion of Ukraine.
According to Xinhua, Premier Li made the remarks at a weekend meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach in Beijing.
Li’s comments come as 35 nations, including the US, Britain, and France, lobby the IOC to remove athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus due to the war.
In January, the IOC indicated it would consider neutrally accepting athletes from the two nations in the Olympics and recommended Asia avoid European regional tournament restrictions.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has invited Russian and Belarusian competitors to the Asian Games in China this year.
“Li said that China is willing to work together with the IOC to oppose the politicisation of sports and make greater contribution to the Olympic movement,” Xinhua said.
Bach said China promotes international peace and prosperity, and the IOC is eager to work with China to further the Olympic movement.
Xinhua didn’t specify Li’s concerns about Bach.
Last year, Canada, the US, and Britain boycotted Beijing’s Winter Olympics, citing human rights concerns. China labeled the boycotts “political posturing” and slander campaigns.
The World Ice Hockey championships in Bosnia in February and the Asian Rugby Seven Series competition in Incheon last November featured a Hong Kong protest song that enraged Beijing.
Hong Kong’s government deplored the wrong song and directed sports teams to play the appropriate one.
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