Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern Wednesday that China is using the Olympics for politics.
Several media around the world report that China is using extremely sensitive tests that appear to detect COVID-19 infections that occurred several weeks ago and that it imposes strict quarantines on those who present a result. positive. However, all athletes and media representatives who travel to China for the Games must have tested negative before leaving, but it seems that the Chinese authorities take little notice of tests carried out abroad.
While saying he understands that it is important to ensure the health and safety of athletes and that this implies the imposition of measures, Mr. Trudeau added that “we have to make sure that they are the right ones”.
“We want our Canadian athletes to be protected from importation or exposure to the virus from other athletes, so it’s good that there are measures in place, but if there are specific concerns about to the tests, we will do follow-ups. »
Then, he said he hoped “that China will allow the Olympic Games to take place and athletes from all countries, including Canada, to be at their best to be able to celebrate this unifying sporting moment around the world”.
The Prime Minister promised that his government would always be there to support Canadian athletes, saying he expected them to be victorious in many events, adding that “we will continue to ensure that they can have every opportunity to succeed “.
However, Canada’s diplomatic boycott of the Games means there will be no government officials to support any challenge to how the athletes will be treated.
Asked moreover about the claim of the Chinese authorities that the Omicron variant would have arrived in China through a package from Canada by post, a hypothesis described as very implausible by many experts, Justin Trudeau replied that the “we continue to see that China is trying to play a little strong diplomacy with Canada and with other countries”.
He specified on this subject that Canada will continue “to seek to be firm in our positions with respect to human rights, with respect to democracy, with respect to respect for international rules and the rule of law, but we will also continue our work internationally to create economic opportunities for all”.
