Spotlight on the 2022 Winter Olympics: Insights and Issues

Authored by Samantha Brezak

Edited by Mela Ottaiano 

The Winter Olympics occur once every four years, making it a special event for potential competitors, countries, and spectators. The snowy setting and 15 sports, such as skiing, skating, curling, and bobsledding, make it an even more special event. China is hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing from February 4–20. They will also host the Winter Paralympic Games from March 4–13. China joins Argentina, Canada, Croatia, Jamaica, Morocco, South Korea, and 96 more nations in the competition. 

The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, has an important role in the administration and management of the Olympic Games. A major goal of their mission is to affirm and promote their role regarding “relations with many international governmental and non-governmental organisations dealing with, in particular, sport, education and culture.” This mission statement is reflective of the greater purpose of the Olympic Games.

The first Winter Olympic Games occurred in France in 1924, a chillier occasion to the warmer summer olympics that began in 1896. Only a year later, in 1925, a formal decision was made to create an official separate section for the Winter Olympic Games. As time passed, the event’s reach grew, with early hosting sites across Europe and the United States. 

The Olympics receive a tremendous amount of publicity and coverage. This year, that fact is especially true, but not in a completely positive light. From health to politics, many factors are at play to complicate and influence the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Challenges Athletes Face – On and Off the Field

Pressure 

Participants in these major sporting competitions can experience a flurry of positive feelings and responses, including satisfaction, praise, success, idolization, and sponsorship. These athletes demonstrate commitment and persistence. Their own hard work, along with training from coaches and mentors, lead athletes to major moments like this. They represent their countries and are often the future motivation for the next generation of competitors. But amid all the seemingly great opportunities, there are potential negative effects. 

Olympic athletes are watched from the competition and onward. They are put on a pedestal by their respective countries and held to high expectations. Pressure is placed on them to succeed on behalf of their homeland. Heavy feelings of responsibility and constant scrutiny are examples of what can impact mental health and wellbeing. 

Extreme pressure can lead athletes to feel like they have to do whatever it takes to win. The practice of doping – using performance-enhancing drugs – exists in competitive sporting, in spite of measures intended to keep any use in check. Being in the public eye can also affect how athletes see themselves. Body image is a trending issue for a wide variety of people, from youth to celebrities. This is definitely a risk factor for harmful behaviors, leaving athletes especially at risk. Gracie Goldie, Olympic figure skater, dealt with the pressure to uphold a certain physical appearance. The pressure may come from the media, family, society, or oneself. However, as more and more athletes share their stories and experiences, acceptance and support is growing. The “mold” that many feel they need to “fit” into is becoming less rigid. 

Mental Health

During the most recent Summer Olympics, held in 2021, gymnast Simon Biles resigned from part of the competition due to distress and to prevent any potential injury from a gymnastics performance. This choice was met with support from fellow athletes and followers and some criticism from viewers and public figures. On the situation, she stated, "To do something that I've done forever and just not be able to do it because of everything I've gone through is really crazy, because I love this sport so much. It's hard, I'm sorry. And I don't think people understand the magnitude of what I go through." Her decision placed the topic of mental health at the forefront of the public eye. But Biles provided hope, saying, “Getting the mental health therapy that I need has been really relieving for me, especially being on the road and on tour.” These publicized situations remind all people that they are not alone and deserve help.

Physical Health

“All sport events have inherent injury and illness risks for participants,” states the British Journal of Sports Medicine. A physical event with tremendous bodily displays of athleticism can place the individuals at a unique risk for skeletal and head injuries, some having the potential to be career ending or extremely harmful. 

In addition to the more unique risks Olympic athletes face, they also face “everyday risks” like you and me. Stress, on or off the competing field, can be taxing on the human body. Stressful events raise blood pressure and heart rate and reduce the efficacy of the immune system. While many may view these athletes as invincible, they are still human. 

COVID-19

COVID-19 has affected everyone involved in the Olympics, from spectators to athletes to organizers and staff. The previous summer Olympics in Tokyo came at a year delay, which resulted in cuts to ticket and accommodation revenue. The reduced workload also impacted the need for labor and spendable income. Planning issues have brought uncertainty and confusion, which is not a selling point for consumers. Spectators enthused about The Games have also been affected. For example, the absence of an outlet for an event they have been looking forward to has a negative impact on mental health. Limited attendance combined with a reduced number of athletes permitted to compete result in a smaller in-person occasion  than in previous years. China capped ticket sales for the Winter Olympics hoping to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the Games. But even with a smaller number of attendees and competitors, Olympians face a risk of contracting COVID-19 due in part to such close quarters. Recent COVID-19 variants – Delta and Omicron – add uncertainty and concern. And while cancellation is necessary at times, mental health professionals note potential issues such as the loss of progress towards athletes’ goals and an effect on part of their identity. 

A Country’s Decision to Host

Countries that gain the title of Olympic host receive honor, prestige, publicity, tourism, and more. Financial transactions, from sponsors and spectators to small shops and large corporate companies, will appear in the hosting country. But is it for the good?

Some say the Olympics are a “bad deal” for the economic systems of the hosting countries. But others tout that the benefits are clear and concrete, citing a study confirming Brazil’s benefits from the 2016 Summer Olympics.  Hosting the Olympics requires massive efforts in areas such as construction, hospitality, tourism, travel, and transport. New jobs means citizens can see money going into their pockets. Those arguing against spending on the Olympics believe that other public needs could be better addressed and alleviated with that money. There is a large amount of profit from the Olympics. The last three Winter Olympic Games brought in at least 1.3 billion dollars each from broadcasting alone. However, the cost is also a large number. Over 50 billion dollars were spent on construction for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia – nearly 39 times the revenue from broadcasting. Olympics are short-term events and certainly won’t provide a permanent solution to rampant economic problems, but they have potential to be a catalyst for change.

Officials spend grand amounts of time to plan, design, and construct advertisements, arenas, venues, and more to celebrate this recognition. The hosting is a symbolic representation of their country and nationality as a whole. A big event like this can be a showcase for the whole country – its culture and customs. However, such a spotlight can also expose the negative issues of a country, such as historical and current economic, political, and humanitarian issues and crises. For example, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil displayed the country’s ongoing struggles to meet basic needs, such as safety and access to clean water. And the big, upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has put their country’s labor practices under a spotlight. Foreign workers can be exploited in construction and many other industries, under the Kafala system. This system, originating from the Arabian Gulf, dictates legalities of immigrant workers based on employer sponsorship. Critics of the Kafala system cite criminally low wages, abuse, and unsafe working conditions. Now, China faces scrutiny.

Beijing 2022

With Beijing, China, as the host site, many have raised questions and concerns due to controversies regarding human rights. The human rights violations accusations involve religion and free speech, in particular. 

China is home to a subpopulation of an ethnic group known as the Uyghurs, who largely practice Islam. Mistreatment of Uyghur and other Muslims have come to light in recent years. Harassment by police officers, disappearances, and reeducation camps have been made public knowledge. Others practicing Islam and of different ethnicities and cultures can also face prejudice. These actions against Muslims also specifically attack women of this group. Rape and forced sterilization are only a brief glimpse at the attrocities these women face.

Another concerning event that focuses on women’s rights in China surrounds Peng Shuai, the female Chinese tennis player. In a post, she discussed allegations of assault by an official, and it took social media by storm. For a time after, Shuai seemed to have disappeared. Although her presence was eventually seen in some media, and she later refuted her original claim, confusion and concern for the tennis star remain. It has also reignited concern for the rights and safety of women and individuals overall in China.

Individual freedom in China has been a heated topic of discussion and debate. The Chinese government has come under fire by human rights organizations for limiting their citizens’ free speech and access to information. Citizens have reported this limited access to information and that certain media is censored by the government. In addition, there is controversy over the aspect of citizen monitoring and abuse by police forces. Beginning in 2019, protests in Hong Kong against police brutality and amendments to laws drew worldwide scrutiny of the issues. 

Another issue boiling over regarding freedom is the Taiwanese democratic movements. Motions have been underway in Taiwan for some time to separate from China due to discontent with their governance. The protests in Hong Kong in the recent past have put pressure on Chinese and those with ties to them. For example, Disney and the main star of their 2020 remake, Mulan, have drawn heavy criticism. Many found controversy with Disney's not addressing human rights violations and the lead actress’ support of police force. Currently, the situation regarding Taiwan seems to be at a standstill.

Due to these concerns, several countries have pledged to symbolically boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. These countries include the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, and Denmark. Muslim groups, such as Uyghurs in both Turkey and Australia, are also supporting a boycott. As the saying goes, history repeats itself. This is not the first boycott the Olympic Games have faced. The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow faced a boycott due to the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union.

China has faced humanitarian issues for years. Events such as protests at Tiananmen Square and the movement of Free Tibet show the issue is a long-standing one. Students organized at Tiananmen Square in 1989 to show disapproval for political corruption and limited free speech and information. Free Tibet is an ongoing movement supporting independence and freedom of Tibetans under China’s influence and control. These events and declarations demonstrate the persistence and demand of rights in China.

The actions done unto individuals in violation of human rights are reprehensible. Some may ask why more people or officials are not joining boycotts or making a statement. The stance on speaking out seems like an obvious choice to public representatives and officials, but speaking out against authority is not so simple. Why is that? China is an emerging economic and financial force worldwide. Their influence and business is present in nations throughout Africa and Latin America, such as Equatorial Guinea and Chile. Speaking negatively regarding any country could damage diplomatic ties.

In addition, some are curious and watch the actions of athletes. Anyone can now voice their views on social media, but the potential for in-person protests are of interest. In 1968, three athletes, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Peter Norman, put on a display of protest for civil rights at a medal ceremony. Their actions, while now deemed brave and commended, brought controversy and ostracization at the time. Protesting can also provide physical danger. In the Tlatelolco region of Mexico, Government forces’ response to protestors would end fatally. The clash resulted in the killing of protestors who spoke against Mexico City hosting the 1968 Olympic Games. 

Treading Forward – Facing Conflict and Uncertainty

Sports bring people together by offering a common ground between different regions, countries, and people. Athletic teams can also be a distinguishing form of national and cultural identity. This link to an identity can put individuals in a position that can bring hostility and responsibility onto themselves. Unfortunately, public sporting events can also highlight nations’ issues and misactions. 

While citizens’ identities can include their nationality, they should not be held responsible or punished for the actions of their country. Miseducation or lack of resources can contribute to narrowmindedness and violence towards others.  More than ever, the general public places pressure on authority figures, whether they are celebrities or government officials. Through social media, many are sharing their voice, increasing pressure and response.

The current political and health climates loom over the Games with uncertainty. Now and in the future, the world will continue to face events that are difficult to predict and monitor. How do we handle this uncertainty? How can we resolve the issues we are facing? 

 It is evident  that education, reform, and social reconstruction are needed in many parts of the world. Understanding our difficulties and differences helps to build acceptance and works to solve problems. Health crises, acts of hate, and economic disaster are issues that linger in our societies. The Olympic Games inspire many people to work together, persevere, and overcome. These themes of positivity and encouragement ring through and continue to be an example for the change the world needs.