D-Day in Beijing. The opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Games must give the official starting signal for the Olympic event, this Friday, February 4, at 20 p.m. sharp at the Bird's Nest in the Chinese capital. The enclosure built for the Summer Games in 2028 could ring hollow, despite the presence of a few thousand artists and extras involved in the evening. Dignitaries are announced in small numbers. The IOC itself is not complete. As for the spectators, mystery.
Sport, finally. But not only. For his first press conference in Beijing, Thursday February 3, Thomas Bach did not often have the opportunity to speak on sporting subjects. He tried, but questions from the media, Chinese and international, often brought him into political territory. The IOC President had prepared for it. He did not refuse the obstacle, but without allowing himself to be trapped either.
Highly ranked among the topics of the moment is the Peng Shuai affair. Thomas Bach was the first foreign official to speak to him in person. The interview took place by videoconference last November, at a time when the whole world was wondering where the Chinese player could have been hiding since her allegations of sexual assault by a dignitary of the communist regime.
In Beijing, in the coming days, Thomas Bach will offer himself yet another first. The IOC President announced to the media on Thursday February 3 after the body's session that he would meet Peng Shuai in person in the Chinese capital. When ? Or ? Thomas Bach does not specify this. And for good reason, since the details of the meeting do not seem to have been finalized.
The only certainty: the exchange will take place within the Beijing Winter Games bubble. Peng Shuai will have to enter the “ closed circuit » set up by the Chinese organizers. “ She will enter the closed circuit in order to have this meeting, according to her wish, explained Thomas Bach at a press conference. Once all procedures are completed we will have our meeting"
The Chinese player is not accredited for the Beijing Games, but she may be allowed to enter the bubble, subject to providing two negative coronavirus tests two days apart.
The IOC is not at its first exchanges with Peng Shuai. A second virtual meeting was organized last December from Lausanne. Unlike the first, Thomas Bach did not attend. According to the IOC president, a new exchange took place in recent days with members of the Olympic body.
« We know from her explanation that she lives in Beijing, can move freely and spends time with family and friends, Thomas Bach clarified Thursday February 3 to the media. Now we will be able to take the next step in a personal meeting. She will allow us to find out in person how she is and what her state of mind is. »
After the videoconference meeting organized by the IOC last November, Thomas Bach was criticized for not having openly cited the sexual allegations made by the former world number 1 in doubles. The Olympic body was also singled out for not having launched an investigation into the player's situation.
In Beijing, Thomas Bach denied having shown laxity, or even complicity, with the Chinese regime. “ If she wishes an investigation to be carried out, we will support her in this process., explained the IOC President. But it’s his life, these are his allegations. We will know more about her physical integrity and mental state when we meet her in person"
Question: Will Peng Shuai remain invisible until her meeting with Thomas Bach? His presence at the opening ceremony, this Friday, February 4, would constitute an event of global significance. Response in a few hours.
