September 20, 2025
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Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2
Context
- Recently, India announced a diplomatic boycottof the Beijing Winter Olympics.
- By doing so, India has joined a growing list of countries that will not send government delegations to the Chinese capital for the Winter Olympics.
- In December, the United States had announced a diplomatic boycottof the event. The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the Netherlands, among others, followed the US’s lead and made a similar decision.
- Moreover, Doordarshan’s has also decided to not telecast live the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Games. The announcement had come after the Indian government refused to send its envoy to the opening or closing ceremonies.
What is a diplomatic boycott?
- It simply means these countries will not send official government delegations to Beijing during the Games. Given the scale of the Olympics, high-ranking officials from a country’s government often travel to the Olympics. These officials are often labeled as the ‘VIP visitors’.
- There is no obligation for a head of state or high-ranking diplomats to visit the host nation.
Effect of diplomatic boycott on athletes’ participation
- Athletes and officials from all countries will continue to take part in the Winter Olympics in Beijing unhindered.
- The Olympics are now are a billion-dollar enterprise and a complete boycott could cost athletes, broadcasters and the organisers a fortune. A diplomatic boycott is a token protest that has no impact on the sporting spectacle.
- Athletes have been warned not to indulge in acts of demonstration during the Olympics by their own governments as well as the Chinese officials.
- Some countries have also asked their athletes to leave their main devices at home and use burner phones at the Games to avoid privacy breaches.
Controversies surrounding Beijing Winter Games
- In India’s case, the boycott was announced after a Chinese soldier involved in the Galwan incident was made an Olympic torchbearer.
- The Western countries, led by the US, made the diplomatic snub over China’s alleged treatment of the Uyghur Muslims and human rights issues.
- Some countries like Austria, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands have cited pandemic-related risks for not sending government officials.
China’s take
- China has said it is “not bothered at all” by the boycotts.
- Global Times, China’s state-run newspaper, dismissed Australia’s decision as “immature, arrogant and stupid” while the government said the boycotting countries will “pay a price”.
Diplomatic boycotts impact on the Winter Olympics
- It is very unlikely that diplomatic boycott will have any impact on the Winter Olympics.
- China has said it was anyway not going to invite delegations from other countries because of the pandemic-related restrictions.
- None of the major sponsors or broadcasters have so far pulled out, apart from Prasar Bharti, who have said there will be no official broadcast.
Likely future impact
- There are fears that the move led by the US could provoke China to do the same.
- The US and Australia are the hosts of the Summer Olympics in 2028 (Los Angeles) and 2032 (Brisbane), respectively.
The Indian Express Link
Question- What do you understand by diplomatic boycott seen in news recently? How does it impact the international sporting events and international relations on the whole?
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