Protesters call for Beijing Olympic boycott outside Calgary city hall
A small group of people braved the cold and wintry conditions in Calgary on Thursday to protest Canada's involvement in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Around a dozen people gathered outside Calgary City Hall before marching to the Chinese Consulate, equipped with signs that read 'No Rights No Games' and 'End Human Rights Violations in Tibet.'
The group's main concerns was human rights abuses and violations in China towards Uyghur Muslims, Tibetans, Hong Kongers and other Turkic minorities.
Canada announced a diplomatic boycott earlier this month, meaning government officials won’t attend the Olympics, but athletes will still be allowed to compete.
Members of Tibetan Association of Alberta would like to see a complete boycott.
"We really are requesting that the government, or athletes, or the international committee, move the Olympics out of China," said spokesperson Tsering Chophell.
"If you can’t boycott, then relocate it somewhere else, China doesn’t deserve to host it."
Members of the Tibetan Association of Alberta hold a protest outside Calgary City Hall on Ec. 16, 2021, calling on Canada to boycott the Beijing Olympics.
For Chophell, the cause is deeply personal.
"I grew up as a refugee in India. My family fled across the Himalayas, walking on foot for days and weeks without foot,” he said. “I don’t care what the weather is, I can come out in – 50 C and I’m going to stand up against China. This is my life.”
The 2022 Winter Games will take place in Beijing Feb. 4 to 20, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial has fined him US$1,000 for violating his gag order and sternly warned the former president that additional violation could result in jail time.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
When grief and AI collide: These people are communicating with the dead
AI tools can offer recommendations, answer questions and 'talk' with users. But some users are using them to recreate the likeness of the dead.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
WestJet, mechanics union agree to tentative deal to avoid strike
A potential strike between WestJet and its mechanics union appears to have been avoided.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.