International Olympic Committee says it “respects” the United States diplomatic boycott of the Beijing olympics

This comes as The US has confirmed it will not send government officials to the 2022 Winter Olympics due to China’s human rights “atrocities,”

The US press secretary says the move has been prompted by the “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang”.

US athletes will still be allowed to compete in the Olympics but the country will not be sending its officials to the event.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration would not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing Games given China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.”

“The athletes on Team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home.”

The diplomatic boycott has been encouraged by members of Congress for months, but will it affect the attendance of American athletes?

There was no immediate reaction from Beijing, but earlier Monday the Chinese foreign ministry had threatened “resolute countermeasures” if any such boycott were implemented.

Earlier Monday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned the Games were “not a stage for political posturing and manipulation.”

He vowed that “If the US is bent on having its own way, China will take resolute countermeasures.”

The Winter Olympics will be held from February 4 to 20 in a “closed loop” bubble because of Covid-19 restrictions.