Athletes from all over the world showcase their tremendous talent in the Winter Olympics, held every four years. But the Beijing Winter Olympics, held in 2022, was fraught with controversy. This time for the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics, the doping incident came to the fore, while the players were also upset by China’s tough bio-bubble policy under the COVID protocol rules.
The judge also gave several controversial decisions. The most controversial case came to the fore in the Olympics ceremony, when China handed over the Olympic torch to a man who was seriously injured in a clash with Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley, located in India’s Ladakh region. After this, India diplomatically boycotted the opening ceremony.
A look at some of the biggest controversies in the game-
Uighur athlete lights Olympic flame
Dinigir Yilmujiang, 20, from Xinjiang, lit the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony. The way the Chinese government treats the Uighurs, a Muslim minority group. After this episode, America strongly condemned it. The whole world knows how bad the condition of the Uighur minority in China is.
Declared boycott on grounds of violation of rights
The US announced a diplomatic boycott, citing rights abuses in China. Apart from this, Australia, Britain and Canada also followed suit. However, the Beijing government denied the allegations of abuse. India also decided to boycott the diplomatic campaign in protest against the handing over of the torch to a Chinese commander injured in a clash with Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley.
Questions raised on bad food and arrangement
Russia’s Valeria Vasnetsova tested positive for COVID twice at the Olympics and was eliminated from the competition. The 24-year-old said on Instagram that the food that was given was not edible. His health deteriorated because of that food. ROC Biathlon team spokesman Sergei Averinov said that the diet improved when many athletes refused to eat.
American athlete removed from competition after being COVID positive
American’s Vincent Zhou athlete was removed from the competition after being COVID positive. The 21-year-old had finished third in the free skate event the day before the Test. He was removed from the game without a medal.