Speaker Pelosi warns U.S. athletes not to risk ‘incurring the anger’ of China during Olympics 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) warns United States athletes from protesting at the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

She states that it was not worth the risk of retaliation from the Chinese government while she was speaking at a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing.

Pelosi said, “I would say to our athletes: You’re there to compete. Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government, because they are ruthless.” The New York Times reported that officials have warned athletes that they are subject to Chinese Laws.

As a result, national teams, such as the United States and Canada, told athletes there is potential legal jeopardy in speaking out from both the International Olympic Committee and the Chinese judicial system.

Pelosi continued, “I know there is temptation on the part of some to speak out while they are there. I respect that. But I also worry about what the Chinese government might do to their reputations, to their families.”

Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said she had been contacted by roughly 24 Olympic athletes to talk about the lack of free speech in Beijing.

Richardson said, “A lot of people who have either never been to China before or who have but aren’t sure about the circumstances or the environment have reached out with questions about what they can say or do, what they’re concerned about, what the authorities’ reactions might be.”

China has been criticized for abusing human rights and violating international law and freedoms abroad. Additionally, they have been accused of committing genocide against the Uyghur people. China has repeatedly denied these offenses.