The Winter Olympics in Beijing, China will go forward in February---and American athletes will indeed be participating in those Games.

But the American government won't be formally participating in any Olympic functions:  it's a diplomatic boycott, meaning no U.S. delegations, outside of the athletes, will be in Beijing for the Games.

It's unclear yet whether any European Union countries or anyone else will be joining the U.S. in the diplomatic boycott.

China, for it's part, is dismissing the boycott as "grandstanding."

Michael Payne is CEO of Payne Sports Media Strategies; he last served as the long-time marketing & broadcast director for the International Olympic Committee

--and--

Barry Sanders directed the LA-2028 Bid Committee & was formerly chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games

The Winter Olympics in Beijing, China will go forward in February---and American athletes will indeed be participating in those Games.
But the American government won't be formally participating in any Olympic functions: &nbsp;it's a diplomatic boycott, meaning no U.S. delegations, outside of the athletes, will be in Beijing for the Games.
It's unclear yet whether any European Union countries or anyone else will be joining the U.S. in the diplomatic boycott.
China, for it's part, is dismissing the boycott as "grandstanding."
Michael Payne is CEO of Payne Sports Media Strategies; he last served as the long-time marketing &amp; broadcast director for the International Olympic Committee
--and--
Barry Sanders directed the LA-2028 Bid Committee &amp; was formerly chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games

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