Beijing Olympic Bid Committee Says It Takes Anti-Discrimination Pledge Seriously

A senior official said that Beijing "takes seriously the Olympics anti-discrimination pledge it has signed in its bid to host the 2022 Winter Games" but denied knowledge of a recent crackdown on a prominent anti-discrimination group, according to Adam Rose of REUTERS. The IOC said last year that "it would include human rights clauses in new contracts to be signed by future Olympic host cities, strengthening its anti-discrimination policy." An Olympic panel said in a report on Monday that China has provided the IOC with "written assurances" of its respect for human rights as part of its bid to host the winter games in Beijing. Beijing bid committee spokesperson Wang Hui said, "We are absolutely anti-discrimination, that's without a doubt." Activists "have already expressed concern about the possibility Beijing will win, with Tibetan groups this week saying that China's rights record disqualifies it" (REUTERS, 6/2).