Nancy Pelosi Has a Message for US Athletes Competing in China – Opinion

Beijing will be the host of the 2022 Olympic Games. They are scheduled to begin on Friday. The communist country is committing human rights violations as they do this. The CCP has systematically sought to cover up its genocide of the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, and that’s just their latest atrocity.

This reality has been made clear to the world, so the question of how American athletes who are entering China for the Games should be handled has become an issue. Rep. Nancy Pelosi decided to speak her mind. The House Majority Leader stated that U.S. athletes need to be safe and not speak out.

“I would say to our athletes: You’re there to compete. Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless,” Pelosi said. “I know there is a temptation on the part of some to speak out while they are there. I respect that, but I also worry about what the Chinese government might do to their reputations and to their families.”

Pelosi continued: “So, again, participate, let us celebrate from abroad, and don’t risk thinking that there are any good intentions on the part of the People’s Republic of China’s government — because there are none.”

Nancy Pelosi warns U.S. Olympic medalists not to criticize the Chinese Communist Party of Beijing, as they could “incur the anger” the Chinese government. pic.twitter.com/kzwSYdMJyM

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 3, 2022

This was the message the U.S. sent to the Soviet Union when it competed with them. Given what is known about the cultural impact of the Olympics in pushing back against the Iron Curtain, a call to silence appears utterly unAmerican. Pelosi may be concerned, but it is the right time for us to speak out and press China.

CCP will not arrest US-based athletes because they are speaking out. This would create an international problem. Most likely you will see Chinese officials pulling out of the country, and there would be lots more hand-wringing. But that shouldn’t stop us from welcoming confrontations. Allow them to be the tyrants on the global stage.

That’s not to say athletes should be forced to speak out. It is obvious that they have been trained. They should make the decision. However, if someone is determined to speak out, then they should be supported. China is a force that encourages other nations to submit to its dictates, so the more China feels empowered, the greater their chances of being successful.

Yet, I will agree with Pelosi on one thing — it is a disgrace that China was ever awarded these games in the first place. Beijing 2008 Olympics was marred with corruption allegations, cheating and pollution. China’s human rights violations are well-known and it was not surprising that there were so many reasons to expel them. Yet, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), being the absolute dumpster fire that it is, handed China another hosting opportunity anyway — no doubt because palms were greased. By comparison, the U.S. hasn’t hosted the games since 2002 in Salt Lake City.

China will continue its abuse of its position on the international stage unless the U.S. takes action to stop these charades. It would be easy to get athletes to express their opinions at the games. Unfortunately, our elected officials prefer to placate China at every opportunity, and that’s almost certainly because of various financial dealings. Corruption runs deep.