NPR.

It is the Olympics.

The games are happening, but this is a really unusual year, and not just because of the

pandemic.

China, which is hosting the Winter Games in Beijing, is facing a lot of criticism for

its human rights record.

This restrictions on the press, censorship of everyday citizens, and especially its

treatment of weekers.

The US State Department says the Chinese government is carrying out genocide.

It's forcing people to live in detention camps, forcing weaker women to undergo abortions,

and forcing them to undergo sterilization.

And because of that, a number of countries, including the US, Britain, and Canada, have

to clear diplomatic boycotts.

And it's against this tense backdrop of politics and human rights issues that businesses,

you know, the Olympics corporate sponsors, they're trying to keep a low profile.

Usually when you watch the Olympics on TV, there would be tons of ads, but this year has

been relatively quiet.

Sponsors are caught between a rock and a hard place.

If they pump up their sponsorship, they risk alienating some American consumers.

And in fact, last summer, a congressional hearing called on American businesses to withdraw

their sponsorship of the Olympics.

On the flip side, if businesses speak out against the Chinese, they risk losing Chinese

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