Luxembourg royal arrives for Beijing Olympics

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg arrived in Beijing on Monday to attend the upcoming opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Grand Duke Henri is the first political leader to come to China from abroad for the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, at least 32 foreign heads of state, heads of government, members of the royal family and heads of international organisations will attend the opening ceremony.

The Beijing Winter Olympics, which start on 4 February, are facing a diplomatic boycott led by the U.S., amidst criticism of human rights abuses including the confinement of an estimated 1 million people or more - most of them Uyghurs - in so-called in reeducation camps in the region of Xinjiang.

Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom are also boycotting the games in protest over Chinese human rights abuses and other diplomatic disagreements. The diplomatic moves do not affect these nations' athletes' ability to compete in the games.