Winter Olympics: Peng Shuai meeting to go ahead, IOC says, as activist group reminds Beijing 2022 athletes to stay silent
- IOC spokesman Mark Adams says advanced details of meeting with the tennis player would not be revealed
- The Global Athlete group says Peng is an example of the risks athletes face if they speak up in China
As Olympic chiefs confirmed they would meet Peng Shuai, activist group Global Athlete used the tennis player as an example to remind competitors at the Winter Games to refrain from talking about human rights while in China.
The well-being of Peng, a three-time Olympian, became a matter of concern in November when, according to the Women’s Tennis Association, she appeared to allege on social media that a former Chinese vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her in the past.
Her post was taken down minutes later, prompting the “Where Is Peng Shuai” movement as athletes and groups around the world expressed fear for her safety. Zhang and the Chinese government has not commented on the matter.
“With no protection by the IOC or the Chinese authorities we strongly advise athletes not to speak up about human rights issues while in China. The disappearance of Peng Shuai is a glaring example of the type of the risk athletes face when they speak up,” Global Athlete posted on Sunday.
The IOC, meanwhile, said on Sunday they would proceed with the meeting but details will not be shared in advance. “We have always said there will be a meeting with her and there have been a series of calls leading up to this moment,” Mark Adams, the IOC spokesman, said.
“That has not changed. As the IOC president [Thomas Bach] so eloquently said, we will talk with her and it is up to her to say what will be said. I will not be giving any more details on that.”
Peng said in December she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her and her post had been misunderstood.
Ahead of the Beijing Games, the IOC held several video calls with her and had announced a face-to-face meeting during the Games. It was not clear whether Bach would meet Peng in one of the competition venues or somewhere else in Beijing.
“We wouldn’t be giving a schedule where and if she may or may not be watching [sports]. We don’t think it is ideal to be discussed at that level. When we have information we feel we are able to share we will do so,” Adams said.
The IOC has also said it would support her if she wanted her allegations to be investigated. Despite these contacts and a handful of videos from Peng, international concerns over her safety and well-being have not been allayed and the WTA has suspended tournaments in China.
Although China has not directly commented on Peng’s initial post, it has repeated said it “opposes the politicisation of sports”.
