Canada, Australia and UK join US boycott of Beijing Olympic

• Canada will join the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns. 

• The announcement came after the White House, the Australian government and the UK government confirmed diplomatic boycotts of the Winter Games in February to protest Chinese human rights abuses.

•  China has vowed to react with “firm countermeasures.” 

• The diplomatic moves by Canada, the U.S., Britain and Australia do not affect their athletes’ ability to compete in the games.