NHL players not heading to Beijing
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US news outlets cited sources that say the National Hockey League will not send its players to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
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The NHL had agreed to send athletes to the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics unless league seasons were impacted by COVID.
National Hockey League players will not compete in February's Beijing Winter Olympics in the wake of 50 NHL games being postponed over COVID-19, reports said Tuesday.
Multiple US news outlets, including ESPN, cited unnamed sources that said the league and NHL Players Association reached an agreement not to send athletes to China.
"It's disappointing," said Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos, a 31-year-old Canadian player for the NHL champions.
"For whatever reason, the Olympic card just hasn't worked out in my favor," he expressed.
The NHL and players union had agreed to send athletes to the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics in case league seasons were not impacted by COVID-19.
With Tuesday's Washington Capitals versus Philadelphia Flyers game postponed by a COVID outbreak, the NHL has been forced to postpone 50 games this season.
For his part, Victor Hedman, a defenseman with Tampa Bay, mourned Tuesday his missed chance.
"We were preparing for a battle in February in China. Looks like it's not going to happen."
NHL club owners have not been welcoming the idea of interrupting the season for coronavirus-related reasons, but they look forward to participating in the 2026 Olympics.
It is noteworthy that the US administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics held between February 4-20, citing "human rights abuses", due to what it called the "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity," in a move that will not stop US athletes from competing.
"The US attempt to interfere with the Beijing Winter Olympics out of ideological prejudice, based on lies and rumors, will only expose (its) sinister intentions," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
"The Winter Olympics are not a stage for political shows and political manipulation," he added, accusing the US of "actions that interfere in and undermine the Beijing Winter Olympics."
