Reuters: China says U.S. plans to pay athletes to 'sabotage' Beijing Games
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's foreign ministry and an official newspaper have accused the United States of planning to interfere with and "sabotage" the Beijing Winter Olympics by paying athletes from some countries to make half-hearted efforts in competition and to criticise China.
The allegations were made a week before the Games start amid tensions between the two superpowers that has included a diplomatic boycott of the event by the United States, which has been joined by several other countries.
Asked about the Chinese allegations, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Saturday reiterated a previous position that Washington was not coordinating a global campaign regarding participation at the Olympics.
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WNU Editor: The report from the China Daily breaking this story is here .... US attempts to use Olympic athletes as disruptors, sources allege (China Daily).
This is garbage. If anything, most US athletes are financed, sponsored or are otherwise predisposed support China over the US.
ReplyDeleteNot exactly the best or most effective "saboteurs".
I rather doubt it, but the CIA, FBI, MSM and Democrats have shown themselves to be inept bunglers.
ReplyDelete"incite athletes from various countries
ReplyDelete1) to express their discontent toward China,
2) play passively in competition and
3) even refuse to take part
Athletes could do #1 now. Has any proof been offered?
I have seen one story. One! The athlete appreciated how good the accommodations were compared to the Tokyo games.
We will have to wait another 5 days to see about #2 and #3. Why would an athlete do that unless they knew they would not medal? If an athlete knew they had a good chance at a medal and endorsement afterwards, the US government could not pay them enough. They could with jobs and patronage, but if politicos handed out patronage to too many people than it does not become effectively.
Everyone has worked really hard to try and make these games succeed. With the resources and support China has had and continues to have here how could the games not succeed?
ReplyDeleteDoes China's leadership know something here that the rest of us don't? Perhaps they've already figured out the Olympics are going to be a flop and are preemptively seeking out a scapegoat.