The Beijing Olympic Organization Committee received, on early Wednesday the Olympic torch for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, following a ceremony in Athens, the birthplace of the Olympics.
Strict measures were taken prior to the ceremony, as journalists were required to go through different forms of measures including identification, security and vaccinations checks before stepping into the stadium, and spectators were banned.
While joviality seemed to lighten the ceremony, right groups called for a boycott of the Beijing games, arguing that China was perpetrating genocide against Uyghurs and Tibetans.
A Tibetan flag and a banner that read “no genocide” were unfurled on Monday by activists who grabbed the attention of the attendees before Greek police intervened.
Another protest was priorly held on Sunday at the Acropolis in Athens where the activists protested with a “Free Hong Kong” sign to later follow an arrest.
The Asian country has long been accused of suppressing religious and cultural freedom in multiple Chinese regions. However, it persists in continuously claiming rejections denying all the human rights violations the country is allegedly involved in.
1,200 torchbearers are expected to carry the Olympic flame in early February 2022 through the following competition venues: Beijing, Yanqing and the district of Zhangjiakou.
Around 2,900 athletes, representing approximately 85 National Olympic Committees will compete in the 2022 Winter Games starting 4 to 20 February.
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