Taiwanese Olympic athletes parade ahead of Hong Kong at the opening ceremony in a symbolic snub

Flag bearers Brittany Bowe and John Shuster of Team USA carry their flag during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4 in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

American athletes Brittany Bowe and John Shuster were the flag bearers for the American contingent of athletes who competed at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The team paraded at the Opening Ceremony after the Biden administration announced in December that it would not send an official US delegation to the Games as a statement against China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity.” in Xinjiang.

American athletes can still compete in the Olympics, but the administration will not send government officials to the games. The same policy applies to the Paralympic Games, which are also being held in Beijing.

The White House is seeking to send a “clear message” that human rights abuses in China mean there can be “business as usual,” Psaki told reporters at a White House briefing.

The move marks an escalation of US pressure on China over allegations of forced labor and human rights abuses in China’s western Xinjiang region, particularly against the Uyghur population and other ethnic and religious minority groups.

The athletes who will make up Team USA have the “full support” of the administration, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, but added that the administration would not “contribute to the fanfare of the games.” .

Team USA boss Rick Adams confirmed a “record number” of 177 American athletes who would walk in the Opening Ceremony.

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