https://finance.yahoo.com/news/africa-decision-not-boycott-beijing-093000132.html

African countries have ignored Washington's call for a diplomatic
boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, instead expressing support for
China's hosting of the Games and warning that the event should not be
a platform for politics.

What's the purpose of sending diplomats to the Olympic games?

I am trying to understand if it's simply a gesture of good will, so that the countries hosting the games also respond in kindness or if there's some other purpose of doing this that I am not aware of.