If the Australian government can stop people from leaving Australia because of Covid, it can stop people from leaving the country to participate in the Communist Winter Olympics, because of Peng Shui and …. well … the Chinese totalitarian government. The 'diplomatic' boycott is pathetic: as if China cares whether or not a few political bludgers save the Australian taxpayers a few bob and stay home, as they should. But, allowing - not even discouraging - athletes from also boycotting the games - is feather in the Communist thugs' caps.

Tennis Australia is acting with 'Chinese characteristics' by setting police on people wearing Peng Shui t-shirts. One copper said that Tennis Australia makes the rules. Any reaction from our 'Liberal' government? We wouldn't expect anything from China-admirer Andrews.

Perhaps we are getting more like China - gradually being conditioned like the frog put into cold water, and gradually boiled?

Many Australians are hopelessly ignorant of important lessons from the totalitarian past. They remain entirely unaware that totalitarianism often emerges as a gradual process towards the consolidation of absolute power and control over society, which can easily spread without much of the population first noticing it and taking hold before it is too late.

Something people don't really think about is that independent International Governing bodies such as the IOC, are usually far more corrupt than supposed Sovereign Governments.

You will find these bodies call the shots over Governments, United Nations, World Economic Forum, World Health Organisation, World Bank etc etc and often, these groups are all run by the same crew.

Something to think about.

The IOC's Thomas Bach 'vindicated' the Communists' disappearance of Peng Shui. The Olympic hierarchy has never come across as anything more than a bunch of self-serving bureaucrats loaded down with big egos, ready to overlook anything that might interfere with their precious, but useless, games.

40 Australian athletes are set to compete.
Certainly there are many human rights issues in
China to address but on the whole it is better to
keep the sport and politics separate.

However the Prime Minister has made it quite clear
that Australia will NOT send officials to the Winter
Olympics in Beijing joining a US diplomatic boycott
of the event and risking a further souring of relations
with China.

New Zealand will also not send official to China.

China doesn't keep sport and politics separate. Xi has a personal interest in the games. He organised the last Olympics. This one is a huge political coup for him. He can threaten and bully the West, and they still flock to help him make it a great success. Everything about China and China's dealings with the rest of the world is pure politics, and about winning, and not just medals. By sending athletes to Beijing, the West has lost another round in the main game.

Very few ever ever want to become very good at anything. Even fewer stay the course to become anything like good enough at anything. The effort to become top of the tree in any country is very long & hard.

No one, government or private citizen who has not reached the height to actually gain Olympic selection has any right to try to deny those who have put in that effort & achieved selection for the right to compete.

Yes the IOC is a corrupt organisation, & China is not all kindness & light, but the Olympics is the top of the tree. Those who have devoted a huge part of their life to representing their country have to use the stage offered, & nothing is more important than letting them have the satisfaction, & yes, glory they have earned.

If anyone wants to say something to China, find another way of doing it, without destroying the dreams of others who have earned the right to compete.