CHINA-BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS: CHINA ACCUSES U.S. OF "BUYING" ATHLETES TO SABOTAGE THE WINTER GAMES

Reuters (January 29) reported that China's foreign ministry and the China Daily accused the United States of planning to interfere with and "sabotage" the Beijing Winter Olympics by paying athletes from some countries to make half-hearted efforts in competition and to criticise China. The CCP CC Propaganda Department-owned English-language China Daily, on January 28 evening cited unnamed sources as saying the United States has a plan to "incite athletes from various countries to express their discontent toward China, play passively in competition and even refuse to take part". It said Washington would provide a large amount of compensation and "mobilise global resources" to help protect the reputation of athletes of who choose to compete passively. A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Reuters on January 29 that the report has "exposed the real intention of some Americans to politicise sports and to sabotage and interfere with the Beijing Winter Olympics. He strongly condemned the attempts by some Americans to "buy off" athletes and "cause trouble" during the Games, adding that these attempts are "doomed to fail". A U.S. Embassy spokesman told Reuters by email on January 29 that "We were not and are not coordinating a global campaign regarding participation at the Olympics. U.S. athletes are entitled to express themselves freely in line with the spirit and charter of the Olympics, which includes advancing human rights." In a message to convey greetings for the Chinese New Year festival next week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told China-based foreign diplomats that China "has the confidence and ability to remove the interference" and turn the Winter Games into an event that promotes friendship and mutual understanding.





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