Missing tennis star makes public appearance
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missing Chinese tennis champion Peng Shuai has made her </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/peng-shuai-hold-video-call-speaks-with-olympic-officials-ioc/231011ea-4cf6-4cee-910b-aae84a608433" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">first direct contact</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with officials outside China in a video call with Olympic officials several weeks after she disappeared from public view.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The three-time Olympian disappeared from public view on November 2 after alleging online that she was sexually assaulted by a former member of China’s ruling Communist Party.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Shuai spoke with officials from the International Olympic Committee from Beijing, and told them that she was safe and well, according to a statement from the organisation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“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 statement </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-president-and-ioc-athletes-commission-chair-hold-video-call-with-peng-shuai" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845785/peng1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9e6eafe7a6504dabad172c4a2ddd00f0" /></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: International Olympic Committee</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Along with IOC President Thomas Bach, Ms Shuai spoke with Emma Terho, the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and IOC Member in China Li Lingwei, who the IOC said “has known Peng Shuai for many years from her time in the Chinese Tennis Federation”.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Shuai “thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being” and said she is spending “her time with friends and family right now”.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis, the sport she loves so much,” the statement said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Bach invited Ms Shuai to join him for dinner when he is in Beijing next year “which she gladly accepted”, the IOC said. Ms Terho and Ms Lingwei were also invited.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern,” Ms Terho said in the statement.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“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.”</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhereIsPengShuai?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhereIsPengShuai</a> <a href="https://t.co/t8SPCrqnMl">pic.twitter.com/t8SPCrqnMl</a></p>
— wta (@WTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1461418624858607616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Concerns about her safety began to grow after her disappearance and the rapid removal of her post from social media, prompting calls to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing in February.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 30-minute call came as footage emerged of her at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to images released by the organiser.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Peng Shuai autographs balls for the kids at the opening ceremony of Junior Tennis Challenger Finals in Beijing. <a href="https://t.co/uPVxlNK1cQ">pic.twitter.com/uPVxlNK1cQ</a></p>
— Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) <a href="https://twitter.com/shen_shiwei/status/1462235050607472643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The images, posted by the China Open on social media service Weibo, made no mention of the allegations or Ms Shuai’s disappearance. She was pictured standing next to a court, waving and signing commemorative tennis balls.</span></p>
<p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/tennis-world-reacts-to-disappearance-of-chinese-player" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tennis stars</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have been especially vocal since Ms Shuai’s disappearance, while the IOC has previously remained quiet.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday, the organisation said it would “continue our open dialogue on all levels with the Olympic movement in China”.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon expressed concern for Ms Shuai’s safety after two videos appearing to show her in a restaurant were shared online by Hu Xijin, editor of nationalistic newspaper </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Global Times</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“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. This video alone is insufficient,” Mr Simon said. “Our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>
