IOC President video spoke with Chinese tennis player and assures her that she is fine

This is the first direct exchange between Peng Shuai and sports officials outside of China. Three months before the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said he spoke on Sunday November 21 by video with the Chinese tennis player, along with a member of the Athletes’ Commission of the IOC (Emma Terho) and another Chinese member of the IOC (Li Lingwei).

In a press release (in English), the Olympic committee ensures that its president discussed nearly half an hour with the player. According to the IOC, she would have explained that she is doing well and that she is at home in Beijing (China), where she spends time with her relatives. She also allegedly asked that her privacy be respected, after a video had been published that same morning showing her attending a tennis match.

Words that reassured Thomas Bach. In the same press release, Emma Terho, member of the Athletes’ Commission, explains that she was “relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing well, which was [notre] concern.” She continues: “She looked relaxed. I offered her our support and to keep in touch anytime she saw fit, which she obviously appreciated.”

For fifteen days, the former world number 1 in doubles has been missing, after accusing the former Chinese vice-premier of sexual assault. An absence that made the international community react, sportsmen and political figures alike. Recently, a letter followed by photos and videos were made public. “Evidence” which has never convinced world public opinion.