SPORTS
North Korea blames U.S. for decision to skip Beijing Olympics
Baku, January 7, AZERTAC
North Korea said it won’t be taking part in the Beijing Olympics and blamed U.S. hostility for its decision, in a symbolic gesture that came months after it was officially barred from participating in upcoming Winter games, according to Bloomberg.
In a dispatch from its official media Friday, top sports officials said the move was due to the pandemic and what it saw as U.S. attempts to spoil the games hosted by Pyongyang’s biggest backer, China. It did not mention the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban North Korea from participating after the country pulled out of the Tokyo Summer Olympics over Covid fears.
“The U.S. and its vassal forces are getting evermore undisguised in their moves against China aimed at preventing the successful opening of the Olympics,” the Korean Central News Agency quoted a letter as saying from its Olympic committee and sports ministry that was sent to China’s games committee.
The comments appear directed at a U.S.-led campaign for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing games in protest against China’s alleged human rights abuses. The U.S. and allies taking part in the diplomatic boycott -- such as Australia, Canada and the U.K. -- will send athletes to the Winter Olympics that start Feb. 4.
“We could not take part in the Olympics due to the hostile forces’ moves and the worldwide pandemic, but we would fully support the Chinese comrades in all their work to hold splendid and wonderful Olympic festival,” the North Korean letter said, according to KCNA.