EU At War Over Beijing Olympics, Poland And Spain Break Away

EU At War Over Beijing Olympics, Poland And Spain Break Away

Following the opening of Beijing Olympic on Friday, a large number of EU countries decided not to send political representation to the ceremony, the member states whose leaders are in Beijing for the occasion, like Spain or Poland – are under scrutiny from their bloc counterparts.

As Canada, Australia, UK, US and others launched a diplomatic boycott against the Games due to alleged human rights abuses in China, the EU’s stance appears to be dissent.

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands all agreed on their position: no political representatives would travel to Beijing for the launch of the Games which are starting from February 4 to 20.

Meanwhile, Spain said it would proudly attend, with Sports Minister Miquel Iceta claiming the country “has never joined an Olympic boycott and will not do so”.

Polish President Andrzej Duda is in Beijing and he is expected to attend the opening ceremony.

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The Germans, after an unclear approach in the months ahead of the Games, spoke out this week.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who is not travelling to Beijing, said: “The world is looking not only at sports, but also at the situation of human rights and freedom of expression in particular. The Olympics is also a chance to open our eyes.”

Daily Express