Democratic governments have more leverage over the Winter Games than they would over the summer competition: The overwhelming majority of top-flight winter athletes come from the United States, Canada and Western Europe. ADAthletes from just 10 Northern Hemisphere countries have won 748 of the 1,060 gold medals in the 23 Winter Games so far. “Where would you celebrate the Olympic Games if you take that kind of attitude?” he asked the BBC. Realistically, though, many Olympic athletes are professionals who enjoy abundant other opportunities to prove themselves in international competition. If the United States and other democracies boycott the 2022 Winter Games, China could respond in kind, triggering a tit-for-tat cycle that ultimately puts an end to the Olympics altogether.

Source: Washington Post February 16, 2021 22:34 UTC