Ukushuba kwesimo kwezombusazwe kuyashuba ngaphambi kwalo mbukiso, ozoqala ngoFebhuwari 4, uma kubhekwa ukuduba kwezombusazwe. 2022 Beijing Olympics eholwa yi-US futhi isekelwa ngamanye amazwe afana ne-UK ne-Australia lapho ibhikisha ngokuhlukumeza amalungelo abantu baseChina.
Esithangamini sabezindaba ngoLwesibili, isekela likamqondisi wezobudlelwane namazwe omhlaba enhlanganweni Ama-Olimpiki aseBeijing Ikomidi elihlelayo, uYang Shu, uthe abasubathi bangase babhekane nokuhoxiswa kokugunyazwa kwabo noma ezinye “izijeziso ezithile” zokuzwakalisa amazwi abo ngokuziphatha kweqembu elibusayo laseChina lamaKhomanisi.
“Noma iyiphi inkulumo ehambisana ne- Olympic umoya ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi uzovikeleka,” kusho uYang.
"Kepha noma yikuphi ukuziphatha noma inkulumo ephikisana nemithetho nemigomo yaseShayina, nayo ingaphansi kwesijeziso esithile."
Njengoba ongoti bamalungelo abantu kanye nabezokumela abasubathi bexwayise abasubathi ukuthi bangalindeli ukuvikeleka kwi-International Olympic Committee (IOC) uma bekhuluma ngezinto ezifana ne-Uighur Muslim yaseChina, umshwibi wase-American Nordic uNoah Hoffman uthe lokho. Ithimba le-USA isivele itshela izihlabani zayo ukuthi zihlukane nezihloko ezinjalo ukuze ziphile kahle.
“Abasubathi banenkundla emangalisayo nekhono lokukhuluma, babe ngabaholi emphakathini. Nokho iqembu alibavumeli ukuthi babuze imibuzo ngezindaba ezithile ezingaphambi kwale midlalo,” kusho lo mdlali oneminyaka engu-32 ubudala. “Lokho kuyangicasula.”
“Kodwa iseluleko sami kubasubathi wukuthi bathule ngoba lokho kungabeka engcupheni ukuphepha kwabo futhi lokho akuwona umbuzo ophusile kubasubathi. Bangakwazi ukukhuluma uma sebebuyile,” engeza.
Khonamanjalo, umqondisi-jikelele weGlobal Athlete, uRob Koehler, ucele i-IOC ukuthi iqinisekise ukuthi izokweseka izimbangi ezikhuluma ngamalungelo abantu.
“Kuyinhlekisa ukuthi sitshela abasubathi ukuthi bathule,” kusho uKoehler. “Kodwa i-IOC ayizange iphume ngokuqhubekayo ukukhombisa ukuthi izobavikela.
“Ukuthula kuhlangene yingakho sinokukhathazeka. Ngakho-ke, seluleka abasubathi ukuthi bangakhulumi. Sifuna baqhudelane, basebenzise izwi labo uma befika ekhaya,” usho kanje.
LOKHO ONGAKUTHATHE KULESI SIHLOKO:
- At a press conference on Tuesday, deputy director of international relations for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, Yang Shu, said athletes could be hit with a cancelation of their accreditation or alternative “certain punishments” for having their voices heard on the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s conduct.
- Political tensions are boiling ahead of the spectacle, which kicks off on February 4, given the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics headed by the US and backed by other countries such as the UK and Australia in protest at China’s human rights abuses.
- As human rights and athlete advocacy specialists warned athletes not to expect protection from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if they speak out on issues such as China’s Uighur Muslim population, American Nordic skier Noah Hoffman said that Team USA has already been telling its stars to steer clear of such topics for their own wellbeing.
