The head of the International Olympic Committee has claimed a 30-minute conversation with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai over the weekend has enabled him to conclude that she is ‘safe and well.’
Thomas Bach was the first senior international figure to speak with the former world No.1 doubles player after a post appeared on her Weibo accusing a former government official of sexual assault. On November 2nd a 1500-word statement believed to be uploaded by Shuai accused China’s former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of pressuring her into sex and that the two had an affair over a 10-year period. The post was removed less than an hour after it was published and restrictions have been placed on Shuai’s Weibo account ever since. She then vanished from the public eye shortly afterwards before state-run media posted a series of photos and videos claiming she is safe.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has voiced their concerns that Shuai is being censored by authorities in her country and hasn’t been allowed to speak freely. Steve Simon, who is the CEO of the governing body, has called for an investigation to be made into the allegations. He has also threatened to cancel tournaments in China should they not receive guarantees about Shuai’s welfare.
However, the IOC has taken a more lenient approach to the matter. Over the weekend they issued a press release confirming that they had a 30-minute conversation with the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion. Also in attendance was IOC Athletes’ Commission, Emma Terho, and IOC Member in China Li Lingwei. Lingwei is a former secretary of China’s communist party.
“You know the whole world was concerned and about her safety and well-being including the IOC. This is why we took various contacts from the moment this issue came up. She assured us she is well and safe but wants her privacy respected for obvious reasons and we offered her support and further conversations,” Back said during an online interview with the AIPS Young Reporters group.
The IOC has been accused by the Human Rights Watch of sportswashing which is the practice of using sport to improve its image. In a statement the organisation urged them to not promote Chinese propaganda. The WTA has also said that they still have their concerns over Shuai’s safety. The IOC statement failed to address the allegations of sexual assault, how they managed to set up their video call in the first place and why some governing bodies such as the WTA have been unable to contact Shuai.
Nevertheless, Bach says Shuai’s ‘relaxed impression’ during their call is proof that everything is well. A somewhat dubious claim from a person who is a fully qualified lawyer in his native Germany.
“We also offered a meeting when we come in January and this video call and this 30-minutes’ conversation gave a relaxed impression we can all conclude that she is safe and well,” Bach claims. ”But we will keep in contact and this is why we proposed to have a meeting there in January when we come to Beijing. She was telling us that she was with her family and friends and wants to be involved in her beloved sport of tennis.’
“I know, from all the reactions we have got, that what the world wanted to know is that she safe and well and this was the appearance in this video live conference.”
Bach’s claim that all is well with Shuai has failed to ease the concerns with some branding the IOC’s call as a disaster. The timing of the situation comes just months before the 2022 Winter Olympic Games which will be held in Beijing. It should also be noted that Gaoli, who has not been seen in public since the allegations, was a key figure in the organisation of the Games prior to his retirement.
News of Shuai’s Weibo post have been censored in China with no leading news outlet reporting on the developments. The country’s media is under government control. Even an article which was published by the public broadcaster of Hong Kong was later deleted due to what some suspect might be Chinese influence.
