The 2022 Olympic Games are set to start in Beijing, China, on Friday of this week. They do so under a cloud of human rights abuses being committed in the communist nation. The CCP has systematically sought to cover up its genocide of the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, and that’s just their latest atrocity.

With that reality set to underscore the games, how foreign athletes entering China to compete, including those from the United States, should respond has become a point of discussion, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi has decided to voice her preference. According to the House Majority Leader, U.S. athletes should play it safe and keep their mouths shut.

“I would say to our athletes: You’re there to compete. Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless,” Pelosi said. “I know there is a temptation on the part of some to speak out while they are there. I respect that, but I also worry about what the Chinese government might do to their reputations and to their families.”

Pelosi continued: “So, again, participate, let us celebrate from abroad, and don’t risk thinking that there are any good intentions on the part of the People’s Republic of China’s government — because there are none.”

Nancy Pelosi tells U.S. Olympic athletes not to "speak out" against the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing lest they risk "incurring the anger" of the Chinese government. pic.twitter.com/kzwSYdMJyM

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 3, 2022

Imagine that being the message when the U.S. competed against the Soviet Union. A call to silence seems incredibly unAmerican, especially given what we know about the cultural role the Olympics played at the time in pushing back on the Iron Curtain. Pelosi may have real concerns, but if there was ever a time to stand up and put pressure on the Chinese, it would be now.

The CCP is not going to risk starting an international incident by arresting US athletes for speaking out. More likely, you would see expulsions from the country and lots of hand-wringing from Chinese officials, but that should be a confrontation that is welcomed. Make them own their tyranny on the world stage for everyone to see.

That’s not to say athletes should be forced to speak out. Obviously, they are the ones who have trained, and it should be their choice. But if someone wants to make a statement, they should be encouraged to do so. China thrives off forcing other countries to bend to its will, and the more subservience is shown to its leadership, the more they will feel emboldened.

Yet, I will agree with Pelosi on one thing — it is a disgrace that China was ever awarded these games in the first place. The last Beijing Olympics, held in 2008, were plagued with pollution, claims of corruption, and even cheating scandals. The human rights abuses in China are not new revelations, and there was plenty of reason to ostracize them. Yet, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), being the absolute dumpster fire that it is, handed China another hosting opportunity anyway — no doubt because palms were greased. By comparison, the U.S. hasn’t hosted the games since 2002 in Salt Lake City.

Until the U.S. gets serious about stopping these charades, China will continue to abuse its place on the world stage. An easy move would be to encourage athletes to speak their minds while at the games. Unfortunately, our elected officials prefer to placate China at every opportunity, and that’s almost certainly because of various financial dealings. The corruption runs deep.