S. Africa rejects calls to boycott 2022 Olympic Games

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee have rejected calls for the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games saying the country will take part in the sports events.

This comes after some countries, including the United States, called for the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games accusing China of human rights violations.

"The SASCOC fully supports the position adopted by the International Olympic Committee that Olympic Games and the participation of the athletes are beyond politics," the organization said in a statement on Tuesday.

"As a National Olympic Committee the preparation of our athletes for participation at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games remains our main focus," it said.

Barry Hendricks, SASCOC president, said South Africa is now focusing on qualifying athletes for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, schedule to take place next year from Feb 4-20.

Thomas Bach, chief of International Olympic Committee, has said they are politically neutral. He warned that politicization of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games would affect the future games.

In a statement the IOC said it "calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee in their efforts to use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games."