Wall Street Journal - Beijing Olympics--Move 'Em or Leave 'Em?

Op-Ed

By Rick Scott

In October 2019, I wrote to IOC President Thomas Bach about the atrocities occurring at the hands of China's communist government. In my letter, I made a direct request: Move the 2022 Olympic Games to a nation that values human rights. Since then, I have repeatedly called on the IOC, Olympic sponsors, NBCUniversal, President Biden and his fellow world leaders, and many others to join our calls to relocate the games. Most have remained silent, but I won't.

In Xinjiang, Communist China is committing a horrific genocide against the Uyghurs. Millions have been forced into labor camps. Uyghur men are tortured and separated from their families. Uyghur women are raped and subjected to forced sterilization and abortion. In Hong Kong, citizens have seen their basic civil liberties stripped away. Once a vibrant democracy, Hong Kong has now fallen under the authoritarian rule of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

I want to be very clear: I do not support a boycott of the Olympic Games. I never have and never will. Boycotts only hurt athletes.

What I want is simple: for Communist China to face real accountability for its human-rights abuses. It's time for those with the ability to drive change to stand up and do so in the name of freedom and human rights. We must be a voice for the millions being oppressed by Communist China's brutal government.

Communist China cannot be given the opportunity to whitewash its crimes on a world stage. If the IOC stands for human rights, it will move these games. The world is watching.

Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.)

Naples, Fla.

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