MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) understands the decision made by the US officials to boycott the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, Agence France-Presse stated referring to the IOC spokesperson.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the US decided to stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Games.

"The presence of government officials and diplomats is a purely political decision for each government, which the IOC in its political neutrality fully respects," the IOC spokesperson noted.

The Beijing Olympics will take place from February 4 to 20, 2022.