‘Openly British’ Kenworthy signs off with IOC criticism over human rights

The British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, said on Saturday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should take a host nation’s stance on human rights issues into consideration when awarding the Games.

Rights groups have long criticised the IOC’s choice of Beijing as 2022 host, and several countries including the United States and Britain mounted diplomatic boycotts to protest China’s treatment of its minority Muslim Uyghur population, which the United States deems to be genocide. China denies allegations of human rights abuses.

“I am absolutely a fan of Olympics. I also think, that being said, because it’s the world stage and everyone is watching, there is an opportunity to create positive change and the IOC could help dictate that change by pushing on certain issues,” Kenworthy said after coming eighth in the men’s freeski halfpipe final on Saturday. “Those issues are human rights issues.”

The British-born Kenworthy, who won silver for the United States in slopestyle in Sochi in 2014 and is now competing for Britain, said China had put on an impressive Games, given the pandemic, but stressed that the Olympics had the ability to bring about positive change. “When there’s human rights and the country’s stance on LGBT, those issues should be taken into consideration by the IOC,” he said.

After finishing, Kenworthy lifted his jacket to reveal a logo written across his grey shirt: “Openly British.” It was his farewell to the Olympics.

“This sport and the Olympics and competing on a professional level has changed my life in ways I could have never imagined,” he added. “I’m gay. I felt like I didn’t fit in, in sport. To be out and proud, competing at the Olympics, and all of the opportunities