Beijing Olympics puts young Uyghur athlete at centre of controversy

China's move to thrust a young Uyghur athlete into the spotlight at the climax of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony placed her at the centre of long-time controversy over rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a 20-year-old cross-country skier, trained for years to fulfil every child's dream to star at the Olympics.

But her prominent, smiling appearance as the final Olympic torch-bearer on Feb. 4 at the "Bird's Nest" national stadium in front of thousands of spectators and across global television screens had clear political overtones.

She is from the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority from the far-northwestern region of Xinjiang, where China's ruling Communist Party is accused of widespread human rights abuses.

Following Yilamujiang's appearance on national and international television, Chinese diplomats shared videos on Twitter of her family clapping as they watched the ceremony on screen, some dabbing tears from their eyes.

Asked by journalists if Yilamujiang's inclusion met the standard of political neutrality, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said she had "every right" to participate.

"As you'll know from the Olympic Charter, we don't discriminate against people on where they're from, what their background is," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.   

"I think the concept of having all the generations there was a really excellent one."Yilamujiang finished 43rd in the skiathlon race on Feb. 5.

The fate of China's Uyghurs has been at the centre of international alarm.

At least one million mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in "re-education camps" in Xinjiang, campaigners say. The United States has accused China of genocide, a charge denied by Beijing. Yilamujiang...