PA Congressman Reschenthaler Wants 2022 Olympics In China Moved

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania is one of three congressmen backing a resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee to rebid the 2022 Winter Olympics currently scheduled to occur in Beijing, China.

If that does not occur, Reschenthaler, and U.S. representatives Michael Waltz of Florida and John Katko of New York want the United States to lead an international boycott of the Olympic games.

“As the Chinese Communist Party commits genocide against Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, the United States, the International Olympic Committee and and nations throughout the world have a responsibility to hold China accountable for its egregious human rights violations by moving the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing,” Reschenthaler, who represents portions of southwestern Pennsylvania south and east of Pittsburgh, said in a prepared statement.

In January, the U.S. Department of State determined the Chinese government, under the direction of the country's communist party, committing genocide and crimes against humanity against the
Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.

During his recent Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed with that assessment, stating that “forcing men, women and children into concentration camps, trying to in effect re-educate them to be adherents to the Chinese Communist Party – all of that speaks to
an effort to commit genocide.”

The rebidding and boycotting of Olympics has gained momentum recently. The Canadian Parliament has voted unanimously to support the rebidding , which also has been baked by United Kingdom officials, The Washington Post editorial board and numerous human rights agencies.

In the U.S. Senate, Republican Rick Scott has introduced a similar resolution calling for the Olympics Committee to rebid the games.