China opens Winter Olympics with peace doves and a mighty provocation

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The ‘genocide games’ begin with a ceremony proclaiming that they will be held on Xi Jinping’s terms

Such was the bewitching beauty of the ceremony that opened these XXIVth Winter Games in Beijing, it almost performed a trick on the mind. But as this two-hour show reached its spectacular denouement, and two young athletes bounded forward to light the Olympic flame, there proved to be a sharp sting in the tail. One of those performing the symbolic act was the Chinese cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang, who is of Uyghur heritage.

That, to put it mildly, was a highly provocative act. Human rights organisations have branded these Olympics “the genocide games”, and accused China of holding a million Uyghurs against their will in re-education centres. China’s response told those groups it didn’t care, and these Games would be held on its terms.

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Written by Sean Ingle at the Bird’s Nest
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/feb/04/china-opens-winter-olympics-with-peace-doves-and-a-mighty-provocation under the title “China opens Winter Olympics with peace doves and a mighty provocation”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.