U.S. Rep Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) | Courtesy Photo
U.S. Rep Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) | Courtesy Photo
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) has joined other members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in urging the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to protect the rights and privacy of American athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Games in China.
The federal lawmakers addressed their Jan. 20 letter to both Susanne Lyons, chair of the USOPC Board of Directors, and Sarah Hirshland, the USOPC chief executive officer.
"I joined my House Intel Committee colleagues @RepBradWenstrup, @CongressmanRaja, and @RepJasonCrow to urge the US Olympic Committee to take additional steps to protect US athletes from China's efforts to suppress free speech and mine their personal data at the 2022 Winter Games," LaHood wrote in a tweet.
The lawmakers stated they were concerned about recent reports that the Chinese Government had promised free access to social media and other websites to American athletes while in the Olympic Village, when the government doesn't offer the same luxury to its own citizens.
"When taking into account the CCP's well-known record on data gathering, human rights, and authoritarian regulation of their own citizens, we urge the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to take every necessary precaution and opportunity to educate our athletes before they leave for the Olympics," the letter stated.
The lawmakers added that they know the risks the Chinese government presents to both data security and a free internet.
"We are proud of our U.S. athletes for their hard-earned accomplishments, but we are also concerned about their well-being while in China," the lawmakers said in the letter.
According to The New York Times, diplomats from several countries including the United States, Australia, Britain, and Canada have refused to attend the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
There were two cities up to host the Winter Olympics this year, Beijing and Almaty in Kazakhstan. The Los Angeles Times reported that Beijing won the vote by a slim margin.
Deadline reported that China has warned the U.S. will 'pay a price' over its diplomatic boycott of the Games.
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