Peng Shuai On IOC Video Call: ‘I’m Safe And Well, Living At Home In Beijing’
Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 10:30PM By Barry Janoff
UPDATED November 22, 2021: Despite the video call between International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, officials were still concerned about Shuai's safety.
According to an e-mail sent to Reuters from the WTA, "It was good to see Peng Shuai in recent videos, but they don't alleviate or address the WTA's concern about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion," a WTA spokeswoman wrote.
"This video does not change our call for a full, fair and transparent investigation, without censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault, which is the issue that gave rise to our initial concern."
November 21, 2021: The situation involving Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai may be far from resolved, but the growing number of human rights groups and athletes both in and out of the tennis community concerned about her well-being might be somewhat relieved to hear that she said she is “safe and well.”
Shuai was part of a 30-minute video conference call today with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.
According to the IOC, “Peng Shuai thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being. 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.”
The call came nearly three weeks after Shuai posted to her social media platform that three years ago she had been sexually assaulted by Zhang Gaoli, then a vice premier and member of China’s ruling political party.
Her post was soon deleted, and Shuai was not seen or heard from since — until this past Friday (Nov. 19), when photos were posted of her by a member of China’s national communications office showing her at home, with the message, "Happy Weekend.”
During the IOC call today, Shuai said 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,” according to the IOC.
There was no mention by the IOC today about Shuai’s allegations or if the IOC still planned to conduct an investigation.
“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern,” Emma Terho, chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, who was on the video call, said via the IOC.
“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.”
Also on the call was Li Lingwei, an IOC member in China who “has known Peng Shuai for many years from her time in the Chinese Tennis Federation,” according to the IOC.
Earlier today, Shuai appeared in photos at a tennis event, talking with people and signing autographs.
Videos released by China state-run media today appeared to show Shuai at a restaurant in Beijing, according to the WTA.
The "Happy Weekend" photos and those at the tennis event, as well as the restaurant videos, did not dispel concerns regarding her safety.
Steve Simon, chairman and CEO of the WTA said via the organization (before the IOC video call was made public), “While it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference.”
Since Shaui’s original post, a social media movement, #WhereIsPengShuai, has grown around the world, supported by such athletes and advocates as Serena Williams,, Naomi Osaka, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Billie Jean King and Chris Evert.
The U.N., White House and numerous human rights organizations called for a transparent investigation.
Today, according to the IOC, “At the end of the call, IOC President Bach invited Peng Shuai for a dinner once he arrives in Beijing next January (for the Beijing Winter Olympics), which she gladly accepted, and the two agreed to include Emma Terho and Li Lingwei.”
Photos: ©IOC/Greg Martin
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