LONDON: Athletes have legitimate concerns about the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and organisers need to be transparent in addressing them, says the Centre for Sport and Human Rights chief executive Mary Harvey.

Human rights groups have urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take the Games out of China because of the treatment of Uighur Muslims, along with other human rights concerns.

China denies human rights abuses.

“Id like information and transparency of the situation,” Harvey said when asked whether she was comfortable with the Games taking place in the country.

“I think right now in the absence of information its difficult to say. I think sunlight is the best antiseptic.” Goalkeeper for the U.S. soccer team that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Harvey said sport was more aware of human rights than ever and athletes and fans were asking more questions.

“They do care about where products were made that they might be purchasing, they care about whether or not they are going to be in some cases safe or able to speak freely. They are legitimate concerns,” she added.

US Olympic champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin said in March she should not have to choose between her “morals” and her “job” “Its building, its increasing in volume. People have concerns,” said Harvey of criticism of the Games and calls for a boycott.

“People who are advocating are becoming louder in their advocacy. And they are asking for some information. They would like more information to disprove what they are fearful of.

“In the absence of that, it probably will get worse before the Games... it could be they come off without a hitch, it could be that you are going to have athletes saying things or protesting. Thats possible too. Its their right to do so.” As a former athlete, she questioned whether boycotts worked and said it was never good “when somebody takes the right to compete away”.

Harvey said the IOC, which awarded the Games, could play an essential role in upholding basic human rights.

“If they choose not to take a position its not because they are unable to,” she said. “I think its a choice they are making opposed to something they are fundamentally unable to do.”

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.