To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether the Olympics are a benefit to the host countries and cities, go to ProCon.org.
The Beijing 2022 Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 4 – Feb. 20, 2022 and will debut seven new sports: freestyle skiing: mixed team aerials; freestyle skiing: men’s big air; freestyle skiing: women’s big air; short-track speedskating: mixed team relay; ski jumping: mixed team event; snowboarding: mixed team snowboard cross; and bobsled: women’s monobob.
On Dec. 6, 2021, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics: “The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic games given [China’s] ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.” Australia, Canada, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom have also announced diplomatic boycotts.
The host cities for five future Games have been announced: Beijing Winter 2022, Paris Summer 2024, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter 2026, Los Angeles Summer 2028, and Brisbane Summer 2032 (Winter 2030 has not yet been set).
Pro
- The Olympics increase valuable tourism, which can boost local economies.
- The Olympics increase a host country's global trade and stature.
- The Olympics create a sense of national pride.
Con
- The Olympics are a financial drain on host cities.
- The Olympics force host cities to create expensive infrastructure and buildings that fall into disuse.
- The Olympics displace and burden residents of the host country and city.
This article was published on January 7, 2022, at Britannica’s ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source.