The Shadow
Yang Shu, deputy-director for international relations for the Beijing Organizing Committee, issued a warning to Olympians that behavior or speech that does not support the Olympic spirit will be punished.
The Winter Olympics are scheduled to get underway in Beijing on Feb. 4, and Shu made it clear that competing athletes will be subject to following China’s laws and regulations and may face punishment should those laws and regulations be broken.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had previously established a similar rule prior to the 2021 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo. Therefore, China’s intention to enforce its laws and regulations falls within the IOC’s guidelines.
More than 200 U.S. Olympians have filled the Olympic roster that was completed recently by athletes who needed to earn quota spots and meet the selection criteria to fill those spots.
Some qualified by winning in the Olympic qualifying rounds, some by excelling in international competition, and some by coaches’ discretion.
The U.S. Olympians will be competing in 15 disciplines, and according to Shu, each will be scrutinized in terms of behavior and speech.
