Lithuania is sending its largest delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics because “the Olympic spirit overcomes politics”
Photo: Courtesy of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Winter Games
The Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LTOK) announced on Monday in its official Olympic Games that Lithuania has sent its largest delegation to the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which analysts say shows that the Olympic spirit is once again overshadowing politics and the noise of some politicians. They have no support for the boycott of the so-called Beijing Winter Games.
The team consists of 13 athletes, including five triathletes, two alpine skiers, four skiers and two snowboarders.
“It’s not easy, because the epidemiological situation in the world is still tense, but I believe that athletes, leaders and participants of the Olympic mission will face challenges. And it remains for us, the spectators and fans, to support the athletes with all our hearts,” said the Olympic champion, LTOK. Dayna Gudzinevicito, president of winterers.
“There are less than two weeks left until the Games, so both the athletes and the LTOK are preparing intensively. We are working to fulfill all the security requirements set by the organizers. The safety of the participants is the highest priority,” said AgnÄ— VanagienÄ—. . , head of the Lithuanian Olympic delegation and deputy director of the Olympic Sports Directorate LTOK.
Sino-Lithuanian relations worsened after Lithuania allowed the Taiwanese authorities to establish a representative office on behalf of Taiwan, a move that contradicts the one-China principle and promotes secession, and in response to this, China announced that it would end diplomatic relations with Lithuania in 2021. in November
In November 2021, a group of Lithuanian parliamentarians called on the country to boycott the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. But the National Olympic Committee says it would be unfair to the athletes and rejects a boycott.
On December 20, 2021, the editorial staff of LRT.lt received photos of a scanned official document from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The document states that Lithuania ordered European Union members to boycott the Winter Olympics and banned the country’s athletes from participating.
Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs then stated that it had become the victim of a “media attack” after rejecting the suggestion that the country’s athletes boycott the 2022 Games. Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausida, said that he and the government ministers will not participate in the games to be held on December 3, 2021.
The so-called boycott harms the interest of the world’s athletes, who have spent four years preparing for winter sports, and harms the interest of the International Olympic Committee and the large international Olympic family, said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry. .
The stark contrast between the boycott of politicians in some countries and the active registration of Olympic committees and athletes has fully demonstrated that the boycott has no support. Zhao said China firmly believes that, following the Olympic spirit, more and more people with global vision will resolutely abandon the politicization of sports and firmly support the Beijing Winter Olympics.
China will work with the International Olympic Committee and other countries, “together” parody the Olympic spirit and present to the world a simplified, safe and wonderful Winter Olympic Games. We also believe that all political manipulations against the Olympic spirit will disappear and the Olympic flame symbolizing peace and friendship will be lit at the Beijing National Stadium, or Bird’s Nest,” Zhao said.