Olympic Federation of Ireland rule out Beijing boycott to 'give the athletes their chance'

A general view of action during the Mens Snowboard Cross Qualifying on Day 6 of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games. Picture: Getty Images

The CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) has ruled out a boycott of next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing amid growing criticism of China’s human rights record.

Both US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have said their countries might limit the presence of government officials at the Games in what would amount to a diplomatic boycott, while some human rights groups are calling for entire nations to boycott the Games.