December 5, 2021
The following text is an excerpt of an article from the website Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/
The IOC Doubles Down On Kowtowing To China
The Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai published an anguished post about her relationship with former Chinese vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli.
Detailing their decade-long affair, she accused him — 40 years older than her — of forcing her to have sex.
Then the tennis star went quiet. The post was removed.
Her fellow tennis players and world tennis officials demanded proof of her safety.
In a statement, the IOC reiterated that Peng is “safe and well,” but again failed to mention the Chinese government’s erasure of Peng from China’s internet or to call for a fair and transparent investigation into her sexual assault allegation.
“We have taken a very human and person-centred approach to her situation,” the International Olympics Committee (IOC) said in a December 2 statement, revealing it had held a second closed call with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai. Meanwhile, Peng has not spoken publicly since November 2, when she took to social media to allege sexual assault by China’s former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.
For the IOC to participate in the Chinese government’s long-running scheme is simply outrageous.
It had prompted tennis legend Martina Navratilova to quip, “The IOC sucks, and you can quote me on that.” Now it has doubled down. If the IOC wants any human rights credibility, it should stop collaborating with the authorities responsible for denying Peng her rights and act publicly on her behalf.
And like always our hint, that many of the Chinese people are great and peace-loving but Chinese President Xi Jinping is not.
