The meeting between Peng Shuai and Emma Terho, the chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Committee, did not take place due to the Finnish corona quarantine. However, the IOC met Peng Shuai during the Beijing Olympics.
A Chinese tennis star suspected of disappearing towards the end of the year Peng Shuain there are still a lot of question marks about the real situation. Peng visited the Beijing Olympics and said he would end his tennis career during the visit.
In November, Peng accused the former Chinese Deputy Prime Minister of the Chinese Weibo service Zhang Gaolia coercion into a sexual act. The publication was quickly removed from the service, and Peng was not seen in public for a long time after that.
There were no outsiders in the interview. Supplier of L’Equipe Marc Ventouillac commented to other media after the publication of his story that one cannot be sure that Peng answered the questions on his own without outside pressure.
Chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Emma Terhon was scheduled to meet with Peng in Beijing, but Terho’s positive corona test watered down plans.
– For my part, the meeting did not take place because I was in quarantine while Peng was inside the Olympic bubble. He had already left when I got out of the isolation, Terho tells Sport.
Peng met with the IOC chairman in Beijing Thomas Bachin and Terho’s predecessor, a former Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventryn between the three without outsiders. Terho cannot tell the content of the conversation.
– It was agreed from the discussion that Peng will be able to say what he wants, says Terho, who is a member of the IOC Board, with the chairmanship of the Athletes’ Commission.
Peng was seen in Beijing in a Chinese outfit watching at least figure skating and freeski competition.
According to Emma Terho, the IOC’s goal is to continue to be in contact with Peng Shuai and to invite him to Europe when the pandemic situation allows. Terho was involved in a video call in November when the IOC contacted Peng for the first time since disappearing.
– It is important that communication continues. The original idea has been to be contacted as a person even after the Games. The race has not been the reason he has been contacted, Terho says.