Beijing Winter Olympics Puts Young Uyghur Athlete At Centre Of Controversy
China's move to thrust a young Uyghur athlete into the spotlight at the climax of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony placed her at the centre of long-time controversy over rights abuses in Xinjiang. Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a 20-year-old cross-country skier, trained for years to fulfil every child's dream to star at the Olympics. But her prominent, smiling appearance as the final Olympic torch-bearer on Friday at the "Bird's Nest" national stadium in front of thousands of spectators and across global television screens had clear political overtones.
