OLYMPIC ATHLETES TO WEAR KIT MANUFACTURED IN ‘SLAVE LABOUR’ REGION OF XINJIANG

China’s Olympic athletes will be donning uniforms manufactured in Xinjiang, a region mired in controversy over human rights allegations, including forced labour.

More than 2,000 sets of uniforms – including ski suits, gloves, hats and ear muffs – using cotton and camel hair sourced from the region have been delivered to Beijing, according to state media Beijing Daily.

The athletic winter gear is “Xinjiang’s contribution to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics,” Jiang Shicai, a Chinese sports official, was quoted as saying by state media.

Xinjiang is among many human rights concerns that prompted governments including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Lithuania to announce diplomatic boycotts of the Olympics, clouding China’s big splash as host of the event next month. read more