World Athletics Responds To Tyrone Smith
Following comments made by Bermuda’s Tyrone Smith that World Athletics should “refuse to host Diamond League events in China until the new security law in Hong Kong is repealed,” World Athletics has said that “it would be impossible to maintain a global sporting calendar if it changed competitions based on shifting political landscapes.”
A report in Inside The Games said, “World Athletics has said it would be impossible to maintain a global sporting calendar if it changed competitions based on shifting political landscapes, after long jumper Tyrone Smith called for the governing body to refuse to host Diamond League events in China until the new security law in Hong Kong is repealed.
“China has introduced a controversial new national security law on Hong Kong, which officially came into force on June 30. Opponents have suggested the law prevents freedom of speech and protests.
“The law has drawn criticism from the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as Australia and Canada. Sport could be drawn into the situation ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Bermudian long jumper Smith has called for World Athletics to use its influence to aid efforts to have the law removed.
“The 35-year-old, who reached the men’s long jump final at London 2012, called for World Athletics to refuse to host Diamond League competitions in China.
“I am calling on World Athletics to use its influence to help end the human rights violations in Hong Kong by refusing to host Diamond League meets in China until the new so called national security law for Hong Kong is repealed. Hit them in the national pride and wallet,” he tweeted.
“If World Athletics changed its competition hosts based on shifting political landscapes it would become impossible to maintain a global sporting calendar for our athletes, and a community of 214 Member Federations,” a World Athletics statement read.
You can read the full story here on the Inside The Games website.
