Calls for Canada to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in China are growing as human rights violations committed by the Chinese government continue to be revealed.

Speaking with Matt Galloway on MetroMorning today, former Canadian Ambassador to China David Mulroney asked how Canada can possibly send athletes to China in light of recent findings. 

Mulroney was referring to leaked secret documents that reveal the  scope of mass detention of ethnic minorities in re-education camps in northwestern China, as reported by CBC yesterday. 

Former Canadian Ambassador to China @David_Mulroney asks how Canada can send athletes to the Winter Olympics in China in 2022 in light of this: https://t.co/ERLaJJ2rx0

— Matt Galloway (@mattgallowaycbc) November 25, 2019

The documents described in the article — labelled the China Cables — go into detail about the imprisonment and indoctrination of Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang province. 

Adrian Zenz, a leading researcher on the Uighur crisis, told CBC he believes the situation in Xinjiang is  the largest internment of an ethno-religious minority since the Holocaust. 

While Mulroney is the latest to call on Canada to refrain from participating in the Olympics, some Canadians have been calling for a boycott for months now. 

Far before detailed information about China's mass detention of ethnic minorities was revealed, many were already saying Canada should boycott because of trade issues as well as the two Canadian hostages currently being held by the Chinese government. 

"Canada should refuse the invitation and announce boycott of the Beijing Olympics unless China immediately releases two Canadian hostages and returns to normal trade with Canada!" one resident Tweeted in September.

Canada, pls wake up to ccp tyranny before it’s too late. We should also boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing n stopping all CSIA/CAIS exchange to China. #China70yearsOfShame #boycottBeijing2022 pic.twitter.com/CSQBx4xMOx

— Al😷 (@Al82754998) October 19, 2019

Some have even said they fear Canadian athletes could be taken hostage if sent overseas. 

Canada should boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics. Our athletes could be taken hostages by the CCP

— JPN (@sortofhere) September 18, 2019

Canada has also been criticized for sending 171 soldiers to China to participate in the Military World Games just weeks ago despite travel warnings. 

The Government of Canada's website currently warns all those travelling to China to "exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws."