{"id":605005,"date":"2021-07-28T14:37:40","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T18:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=605005"},"modified":"2021-07-28T14:37:42","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T18:37:42","slug":"woke-coca-cola-other-businesses-refuse-to-reconsider-sponsorship-of-2022-beijing-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/woke-coca-cola-other-businesses-refuse-to-reconsider-sponsorship-of-2022-beijing-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Woke\u2019 Coca-Cola, Other Businesses Refuse To Reconsider Sponsorship Of 2022 Beijing Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwoke-coca-cola-other-businesses-refuse-to-reconsider-sponsorship-of-2022-beijing-olympics%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=605005&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1229943059.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span>A bipartisan group of lawmakers held a hearing about American companies\u2019 decisions to sponsor the 2022 Beijing Olympics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Due to human rights abuses from the Chinese Communist Party \u2014 such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/senate-passes-uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act\"><span>genocide<\/span><\/a><span> of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/hong-kong-issues-first-guilty-verdict-under-china-demanded-national-security-law\"><span>suppression<\/span><\/a><span> of civil liberties in Hong Kong \u2014 many officials are debating the role of American diplomats and athletes in the upcoming Winter Games, which are slated to begin in seven months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On Tuesday, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cecc.gov\/events\/hearings\/corporate-sponsorship-of-the-2022-beijing-olympics\"><span>Congressional-Executive Commission on China<\/span><\/a><span> hosted a hearing on corporate sponsorship of the Olympics. Lawmakers expressed concern to executives from Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Intel, Procter &amp; Gamble, and Visa over their decisions to provide millions in funding to the Games.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For instance, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) said in his opening <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cecc.gov\/sites\/chinacommission.house.gov\/files\/documents\/Chairman%20Merkley%20Opening%20Statement%20-%20CECC%20Olympic%20Sponsors%20Hearing.pdf\"><span>statement<\/span><\/a><span>:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"14\">\n<p><i><span>As the world watches the Olympics currently unfolding in Japan, this Commission remains deeply disturbed that in less than seven months another Olympic Games are scheduled to begin in the shadow of some of the world\u2019s most egregious human rights abuses. The Olympic Games exist to uplift the human spirit. Yet, unless something dramatically changes, in a few months\u2019 time the Games will be held in a country that continues to mercilessly crush the human spirit, in Xinjiang, in Hong Kong, and in Tibet; among human rights activists and civil society; and anywhere where defenders of freedom stand up to the Chinese government\u2019s bullying.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cecc.gov\/sites\/chinacommission.house.gov\/files\/documents\/JPM%20opening%20statement--Corporate%20Sponsorship%20Hearing.pdf\"><span>prompted<\/span><\/a><span> the companies to draw attention to Chinese human rights abuses:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"14\">\n<p><i><span>Congress and the Executive Branch are acting because, when it comes to the Chinese government committing atrocities, we do not accept business as usual. Today we ask whether you will treat the Beijing Olympic as business as usual.&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>As U.S-based Olympic sponsors, your companies represent America on the world stage. We ask whether you are willing to stand up for universal values and use your leverage against genocide and crimes against humanity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Despite lawmakers\u2019 admonitions, the executives refrained from voicing concern over the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s policies and reaffirmed their decisions to support the Games. In his opening <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cecc.gov\/sites\/chinacommission.house.gov\/files\/documents\/CECC%20Testimony%20-%20Paul%20Lalli_0.pdf\"><span>statement<\/span><\/a><span>, for example, Coca-Cola global vice president for human rights Paul Lalli brushed off the suggestion that his firm could meaningfully impact the Games:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"12\">\n<p><i><span>As a sponsor of global sporting events, our influence is limited. In the case of the Olympics, for instance, The Coca-Cola Company is one of 14 companies in The Olympic Partners program. Those 14 companies together provide less than a fifth of the IOC\u2019s funding. By contrast, broadcasters contribute almost 75 percent. That governments are always intimately involved in bidding for and hosting any event only heightens the challenge.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Despite repeatedly emphasizing Coca-Cola\u2019s commitment to human rights, the statement made no specific mention of the terms \u201cBeijing,\u201d \u201cUyghur,\u201d \u201cXinjiang,\u201d \u201cHong Kong,\u201d or even \u201cChina,\u201d apart from one mention of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/07\/28\/business\/beijing-winter-olympics-us-sponsors-hnk-intl\/index.html\"><span>CNN Business<\/span><\/a><span> reported that other business leaders likewise refused to reconsider their sponsorship of the Beijing Games:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"24\">\n<p><i><span>During the hearing Rep. Christopher Smith asked representatives from the five companies how they could \u201creconcile their ostensible commitment to human rights with subsidizing an Olympics held in a country which is actively committing human rights abuses up to and including genocide.\u201d He asked the executives whether the Games should be relocated.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>\u201cAs long as governments are allowing the athletes to attend the games, we as Visa will be there to support or sponsor them,\u201d said Andrea Fairchild, Visa\u2019s senior vice president of Global Sponsorship Strategy.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>David Holyoke, head of Airbnb\u2019s Olympics and Paralympics Partnership, said that the company\u2019s partnership with the International Olympic Committee is \u201cnot focused on Beijing or any other single games.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>And Intel executive vice president and general counsel Steven Rodgers said that the company has \u201cnot stated a position on the location of the games.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>On Tuesday, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/watch-tom-cotton-shreds-coca-cola-in-explosive-hearing-for-refusing-to-condemn-communist-china\"><span>The Daily Wire<\/span><\/a><span> reported that Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) grilled Lalli over his company\u2019s willingness to turn a blind eye to abuses in China \u2014 which is home to the world\u2019s second-largest consumer economy \u2014 while blasting American officials for purported voter suppression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI\u2019ve heard your talking points,\u201d said Cotton. \u201cAnd I\u2019m tired of hearing them, Mr. Lalli. I\u2019m asking you a simple question. Why is it that Coca-Cola will opine on Georgia\u2019s election laws, but not on the genocide Olympics?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cGeorgia is our home, it\u2019s where many of our employees live and work,\u201d responded Lalli. \u201cAnd we are most engaged on public policy issues here in the US.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI think the answer is, you are afraid of the Chinese Communist Party, you\u2019re afraid of what they will do to your company, if you say a single word, like for instance, saying that both the Biden and the Trump administration are correct when they say that China is committing a genocide against its own,\u201d retorted Cotton.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i><span>member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A bipartisan group of lawmakers held a hearing about American companies\u2019 decisions to sponsor the 2022 Beijing Olympics.Due to human rights abuses from the Chinese Communist Party \u2014 such as &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-605005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=605005"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605005\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=605005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=605005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=605005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}