‘Mockery of a deadly situation’: IOC accused of pandering to China over missing tennis player

After Peng Shuai told the IOC she was safe, the organisation has been accused of being complicit in China’s propaganda machine.

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 31: Shuai Peng of China plays a forehand during her ladies singles second round match against Caroline Garcia of France during day five of the 2018 French Open at Roland Garros on May 31, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been accused of being “complicit” in China’s alleged propaganda after a video call with tennis player Peng Shuai did little to allay fears about her safety.

Peng said she was safe and well during a video call with IOC president Thomas Bach, according to the organisation, following international concern about her wellbeing.

At the beginning of a 30-minute video call with Bach, “Peng Shuai thanked the IOC for its concern about her wellbeing,” the IOC said in a statement.

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“She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time,” it said.

“That is why she prefers to spend her time with friends and family right now. Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis, the sport she loves so much.”

But the IOC has been slammed for failing to address Peng’s allegations that former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli, now in his 70s, forced her into sex during an on-off relationship spanning several years.

The IOC’s response has been denounced as inadequate by human rights groups.

Peng Shuai told IOC chief Thomas Bach she is safe and well. (Photo by Greg MARTIN / OIS/IOC / AFP)

“This is just disturbing on another level,” Human Rights Watch senior China researcher Yaqiu Wang told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“The IOC is now actively playing a role in the Chinese government’s enforced disappearance, coercion and propaganda machinery.”

Global Athlete, a movement for positive progress in sport, said the IOC’s statement showed it was “complicit in the Chinese authority’s malicious propaganda”.

“Today, the IOC showed a complete disregard for allegations of sexual violence and abuse against athletes,” it said.

“By taking a nonchalant approach to Peng Shuai’s disappearance and by refusing to mention her serious allegations of sexual assault, IOC President Thomas Bach and the IOC Athletes’ Commission demonstrate an abhorrent indifference to sexual violence and the wellbeing of female athletes.

“We are relieved that Peng Shuai is alive, but the IOC’s confirmation of a call with the tennis star does not ensure her safety or wellbeing. The IOC’s press release is a harmful attempt to appease both concerned athletes and the Chinese authorities.”

The organisation criticised the IOC for ignoring Peng’s sexual assault allegations and not being genuinely concerned about her safety.

“The release pretends that Peng never made sexual assault allegations and has not been missing for more than two weeks,” Global Athlete said.

“The statements make the IOC complicit in the Chinese authority’s malicious propaganda and lack of care for basic human rights and justice.

“Bach extended an invitation to Peng for dinner rather than ensuring her safety, and by doing so he made a mockery of a deadly serious situation that is regrettably all too familiar for many female athletes.

Peng hasn’t been seen in several weeks. (Photo by GLYN KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

“We stand by our 19 November 2021 statement and call for the IOC to immediately suspend the Chinese Olympic Committee until Peng Shuai is given safe passage out of China and a full and transparent investigation is conducted into her allegations of sexual assault.

“The IOC’s actions today again demonstrate that the organisation fails athletes, aligns with abusive authoritarian regimes, and disregards human rights. Athletes and the international political community must hold the IOC accountable for their actions.”

Former Socceroos and human rights activist Craig Foster added on Twitter: “The Olympics participated in a staged interview, with the Chinese Olympic official present, as proof that all is well.”

Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg was also scathing of the IOC. He tweeted: “This horses**t makes no mention of the whole reason for concern about Peng in the first place: she accused a Vice Premier of sexual assault then faced massive government censorship of her name in public+ private messaging. It’s not about if she can smile near stuffed animals!

“Her physical whereabouts were hardly the whole concern of the ‘#WhereIsPengShuai’ movement, and for the International Olympic Committee to pretend otherwise is predictably pathetic and gutless of Thomas Bach and his cronies desperate to smooth over wrinkles before Beijing 2022.”

Photos and videos emerge of Peng

Earlier on Sunday, Peng was seen in official event photos attending a Beijing tennis tournament, marking her first public appearance since her sexual abuse accusations were widely censored on the Chinese internet.

Following a global outcry, including from tennis superstars and the United Nations, Chinese state media reporters have released a flurry of footage purporting to show all is well with Peng.

A video from the Fila Kids Junior Tennis Challenger Finals event, tweeted by Global Times newspaper editor Hu Xijin, shows Peng standing in a stadium among a group of guests whose names are announced to a smattering of applause.

Hu also posted two other videos on the weekend, the first showing Peng walking into a restaurant wearing a coat, knit cap and face mask, and the second of a maskless Peng sitting at a table chatting with people over a meal.

An image released by Chinese state media purportedly showing Peng Shuai at a junior tennis event in Beijing.

Peng’s claims against Zhang were the first time China’s #MeToo movement has touched the highest echelons of the ruling Communist Party. They were quickly scrubbed from the Twitter-like Weibo platform, and concerns have grown for her safety since.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has threatened to end lucrative contracts with China unless it gets word of Peng’s safety.

But while the images and footage did not seem to alleviate the concerns about Peng’s wellbeing, IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Emma Terho said she was relieved after Monday’s video call, which she took part in.

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“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern,” Terho said in the IOC statement.

“She appeared to be relaxed. I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated.”

World wants proof of Peng’s safety

A growing chorus of voices in the sports world and beyond has been demanding answers about how Peng is.

The White House has expressed “deep concern” about Peng, with President Joe Biden’s press secretary saying his administration wanted China to “provide independent, verifiable proof” of her whereabouts.

China has been urged to provide verifiable proof of Peng’s safety. (Photo by AFP)

Britain’s foreign office also said it was “extremely concerned” and urged China to release verifiable evidence, while France’s foreign minister said she should be allowed to speak freely to clarify her situation.

The UN has insisted on a fully transparent investigation into the claims made by Peng.

Some of the biggest names in tennis have spoken out about the case, including Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka.

Superstar Roger Federer also weighed in on Sunday, saying on Sky Italia: “She’s one of our tennis champions, a former world number one. Clearly it’s concerning. I hope she’s safe.”

Peng represented China at the Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics and won gold for China at the 2010 Asian Games.

She is a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion.

With AFP