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With U.S., others boycotting, China’s Olympic Opening Ceremony guest list is full of authoritarian leaders

Chinese president Xi Jinping will host a who’s who of authoritarian leaders and other international dignitaries at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its guest list on Friday, a week before the Feb. 4 festivities. Its headliner, as expected, is Vladimir Putin, who is allowed to attend as Xi’s personal guest even though Russia is technically banned from the Games.

The United States, Canada and most of the European Union will not be represented. The U.S. announced in December that it would “not send any diplomatic or official representation” to the Olympics. The White House cited China’s “ongoing genocide” against the Uyghurs and “other human rights abuses,” and said it would “not be contributing to the fanfare of the Games.”

Read more at Yahoo Sports

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