The Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports, Jean-Michel Blanquer, declared, Thursday, December 9 on RMC – BFM-TV, that France would not boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 on the plan diplomatic, unlike the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
“France will not do it (…) but we will have messages that are politically clear ”, assured Mr. Blanquer, who added that he would not however make the trip to Beijing in February for the competition, but that the Minister for Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, would go to China, as would Sophie Cluzel, the Secretary of State for the Disabled.
“Sport is a world in itself which must be preserved as much as possible from political interference, otherwise it can go in any direction and we will end up killing all the competitions”, argued Mr. Blanquer.
“We must condemn human rights violations in China, because there are some (…). It is necessary to know, when it comes to sports competitions, to have the appropriate and appropriate attitude. “
“For a common position”
This position marks a difference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. “We are in favor of there being a common position of which we will measure all the issues at the next meeting of foreign ministers or the next, but this question must be dealt with in Europeans”, declared almost at the same time Jean-Yves Le Drian, during a joint press conference with his German counterpart.
Tuesday, the Elysée had said to have “Taken good note” of the announcement by Washington of a diplomatic boycott and that France was “Coordinate” with the other countries of the European Union on this issue in order to decide whether or not they would follow in the footsteps of the United States. Like Washington, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada have decided to send athletes to the Games but not officials, accusing China of trampling on human rights.
For its part, Beijing has warned that countries that will send athletes for the Olympics but no official officials in “Will pay the price”.