We are less than one year out from the next major international sporting event which are to be hosted in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Beijing did host the 2008 Summer Olympics which heralded a number of outstanding achievements. The 2008 Olympics are where Michael Phelps established his iron grip on the swimming world, and we all know what happened when Usain Bolt hit the track.
However, with the continued presence of COVID-19 and the impacts of the pandemic still looming, it raises the question of whether or not the Winter Olympics will go ahead next year in Beijing. The world is still waiting for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo to take place after being rescheduled to July of this year. Moreover, other international competitions like the soccer European Championships and various athletic leagues around the world have had to be cancelled, postponed, or played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
Not only is there a pandemic to deal with but growing reports across social media have hinted at boycotts and protests due to international tensions that have been brewing. In a recent letter to President Joe Biden Rep. John Katko cited Chinese human rights violations as a reason to boycott the games. Furthermore, Russian athletes will be competing under a different flag after Russia was banned from competing at international sporting events due to their infractions with various anti-doping agencies.
With all these issues and hurdles to jump over. Will the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing even go ahead?
Kieren Marshall - Staff Writer