British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy says China is "not well suited" to host the Winter Olympics because of its human rights abuses.
The International Olympic Committee has been criticised for awarding the Games to China because of the country's treatment of its ethnic minorities.
The World Uyghur Congress has described the event as "a genocide Olympics".
Kenworthy said the IOC "should not grant" the Games to countries with "appalling" human rights records.
"I think the IOC should take a stance against a lot of these atrocities and stand up for important issues, and by not granting those countries the right to host the Games they could create positive change in those places - maybe not even letting them compete," the 30-year-old told BBC Sport.
"I know the Olympics are so important to China and they are always so high up in the medal count, that I feel like by actually taking a stance against them in a real tangible way you could probably make some positive change.
"It's all about money, it seems like. I don't really think they're well suited to host the Games."
Photo: Photosport
Human rights groups say the Chinese government has gradually stripped away the religious and other freedoms of the Uighurs - a Muslim minority group living mostly in the Xinjiang province in north-west China - culminating in an oppressive system of mass surveillance, detention, indoctrination and even forced sterilisation.
China has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, insisting camps were not detention camps, but "vocational educational and training centres".
Freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy competing for the USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Photo: Photosport
Kenworthy, who switched allegiance from the United States to Great Britain in 2019, said he plans to "speak up" for what he believes in and will use his "voice and platform to stand up for those ideals".
However, he believes the planned diplomatic boycotts by the UK, US, Canada and Australia, among other countries, will make little difference.
"I think that it comes down to the IOC not granting those countries the right to host, or even to compete," Kenworthy said.
"Yes, that also would affect the athletes, but then it would be up to those countries to then implement change in order to have their athletes competing."
Kenworthy said he does fear a backlash to his comments, but added: "I have always been someone that's a firm believer in speaking up for what you do believe in and using your voice.
"I think when you have a platform, you're expected to use your voice in an even bigger way because you have a way to amplify a message.
"I don't even want to try and speak out against China or take on China or anything, I feel like I'm more directing my messages at the IOC. I don't think that the IOC should grant these countries the right to host if they have human rights issues, if there's genocide going on in the country, if they have stances against the LGBTQ community.
"You shouldn't get to host the Games, sorry."
In a statement to BBC Sport, the IOC said: "The IOC has neither the mandate nor the capability to change the laws or the political system of a sovereign country. This must rightfully remain the legitimate role of governments and respective intergovernmental organisations.
"The Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. They are the most powerful symbol of unity in all our diversity that the world knows. In our fragile world, the power of sport to bring the whole world together, despite all the existing differences, gives us all hope for a better future.
"Given the diverse participation in the Olympic Games, the IOC must remain neutral on all global political issues."
-BBC
