Updated on 2/8/2022 at 11:15 am
- Peng Shuai as a guest at the Olympics: The tennis player followed Eileen Gus’ victory in the stands – next to IOC President Thomas Bach.
- In an interview, Peng Shuai also commented on the incidents surrounding her Weibo post and spoke of a “huge misunderstanding”.
- The WTA, however, remains concerned.
Peng Shuai followed the emotional Olympic victory of the Chinese “snow princess” Eileen Gu on the freestyle hill on the site of a former steelworks. Wearing a black cap, black jacket and white face mask, the tennis player stood next to IOC President Thomas Bach, her arms folded behind her back. They were pictures from the Winter Olympics in Beijing that were supposed to convey normality or help to calm people down. But they seemed rather disturbing. Peng should disappear from the Olympic bubble on Tuesday.
The head of the International Olympic Committee could not say whether she was planning a return visit. And so the worries about their well-being will not end. Because even after a dinner with Bach, a monitored interview with the French sports newspaper “L’Équipe” or visits to curling, figure skating or the Big Air competition, Peng’s behavior, her statements and her appearance in public raise questions.
Despite public appearances: WTA in concern
In any case, the players’ organization WTA or athletes’ associations were not impressed by the seemingly staged events in the Chinese capital. “It’s always good to see Peng Shuai, whether it’s in an interview or attending the Olympics. However, her recent interview doesn’t alleviate any of our concerns about her original post on November 2,” WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said in an Message.
© Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch
Peng Shuai took a brave step with her allegations. “We have requested a formal investigation into her allegations by the appropriate authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng in confidence to discuss her situation.”
Interview with Peng Shuai: “enormous misunderstanding”
Peng’s case has moved the world since the former world number one in doubles published allegations of sexual assault by a top Chinese politician on the social network Weibo in November. The post was quickly deleted. She later denied making the allegations. However, their statements seemed posed. She told L’Équipe: “I never said that anyone sexually harassed me in any way.” Her life is “as it should be: nothing special”. She is a “perfectly normal girl”. It is a “huge misunderstanding”.
“Made into an accomplice”: criticism of the IOC
The IOC positioned itself unequivocally – and was criticized for it. When asked the IOC whether Peng Shuai could call for an investigation into the incidents without worrying about negative effects, spokesman Mark Adams had referred to a statement by Bach the day before. He “rightly said that it is not up to us to say whether there is an investigation or not”.
The IOC has “made itself an accomplice – in several respects,” wrote Maximilian Klein, the representative for international sports policy at the Athletes Germany initiative, on Twitter. The Global Athlete initiative commented on the recent images: “Peng Shuai visits sports venues. She seems calm, smiling. The IOC says she is fine. It should give you a stomach ache. That’s how you cover something. You do it in front of the whole world. ” (dpa/tar)
The 2022 Winter Olympics are in full swing. Regardless of the massive criticism of organizer China and the IOC, we are showing the most beautiful, emotional and spectacular snapshots from Beijing in this gallery.
