The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has again promised a meeting with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai to take place during the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Spokesman Mark Adams declined to give further details, saying Peng Shuai would decide what information, if any, she would release after meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach.
“We’ve always said there will be a meeting here and that hasn’t changed”, said Mark Adams.
Earlier it was reported that the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach will meet with the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai in the “closed bubble” of the Beijing 2022 Olympics. As the meeting had not yet happened, there were rumors that it was declined.
Peng Shuai disappeared for a while after accusing a leading Chinese politician of sexual violence in a subsequently deleted social media post. Athletes, politicians, and human rights experts have expressed concern about Peng Shuai, although the IOC held video talks with her last year. The management of the WTA asked for an explanation, deciding to suspend its tournaments in China.
Peng Shuai is a Chinese professional tennis player. In February 2014, she was ranked world No 1 doubles player by the WTA, becoming the first Chinese tennis player to achieve that ranking.