<p>World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he takes human rights "very seriously" but that Britain's diplomatic boycott of next year's Beijing Winter Olympics is "meaningless".</p>.<p>The United States, Australia and Canada have also announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games over China's human rights record, a stand that China dismissed as "political posturing".</p>.<p>Coe drew criticism over his comments last week when he said he was "philosophically opposed" to boycotts.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/western-diplomatic-boycott-of-olympics-is-a-mistake-putin-1063960.html" target="_blank">Western diplomatic boycott of Olympics is a mistake: Putin</a></strong></p>.<p>"Boycotts, on balance, are historically illiterate and intellectually dishonest. A political boycott is, frankly, meaningless," Coe told British media on Thursday.</p>.<p>"That's not to be an apologist for countries that do not conform to the basic standards around human rights ... I'm not insouciant or cavalier about human rights. I take them very seriously.</p>.<p>"I don't think over the long haul (boycotts) actually achieve a great deal. There are always unintended consequences. And at the end of the day, the people that most suffer in all that are the athletes."</p>.<p>The Beijing Games begin on February 4.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he takes human rights "very seriously" but that Britain's diplomatic boycott of next year's Beijing Winter Olympics is "meaningless".</p>.<p>The United States, Australia and Canada have also announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games over China's human rights record, a stand that China dismissed as "political posturing".</p>.<p>Coe drew criticism over his comments last week when he said he was "philosophically opposed" to boycotts.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/western-diplomatic-boycott-of-olympics-is-a-mistake-putin-1063960.html" target="_blank">Western diplomatic boycott of Olympics is a mistake: Putin</a></strong></p>.<p>"Boycotts, on balance, are historically illiterate and intellectually dishonest. A political boycott is, frankly, meaningless," Coe told British media on Thursday.</p>.<p>"That's not to be an apologist for countries that do not conform to the basic standards around human rights ... I'm not insouciant or cavalier about human rights. I take them very seriously.</p>.<p>"I don't think over the long haul (boycotts) actually achieve a great deal. There are always unintended consequences. And at the end of the day, the people that most suffer in all that are the athletes."</p>.<p>The Beijing Games begin on February 4.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>