The Minister for Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, the only member of the French government to go to the Winter Olympics in Beijing (4-20 Feb), will go there "
without qualms
", she said on Monday on BFMTV and RMC.
She is scheduled to go there from February 11 to 15, according to the Ministry of Sports.
No French official attended the opening ceremony nor will attend the closing ceremony.
“
It is clearly not a boycott, the President of the Republic spoke on the subject.
We are in dialogue, we want to affirm France's positions on all subjects vis-à-vis China.
For my part, I will go for a few days to support our athletes who are competing
,” she said.
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Relaunched by the journalist who asked her if she was going "
without qualms
", she replied: "
Without qualms, today we are in dialogue with countries around the world
", she said. said.
Several countries, led by the United States, have decided on a diplomatic boycott of the Games to denounce human rights violations in China and will not send official officials to Beijing.
Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs, had recently indicated: "
Most European countries (...) have the same strategy of having a zero or reasonable presence, that is to say not of the level of the Head of State or Government, at the opening ceremony.
A diplomatic boycott works like a "
water gun to give a signal
" having "
very little impact
", estimated the French secretary of state, who favors other measures, much more "
effective
" or "
powerful
" .