Australian Open: Organizer comments on ban on "Where's Peng Shuai?" shirts
The Australian Open has come under fire for banning "Where is Peng Shuai" shirts online. The organizers have now declared the strict crackdown.
by SID/red
last edit: Jan 23, 2022, 01:57 pm
At the Australian Open, the organizers found themselves in need of explanation when dealing with the explosive case of Peng Shuai due to an Internet video. It showed security guards at Melbourne Park preventing spectators from wearing 'Where's Peng Shuai?' T-shirts in support of the Chinese tennis player. to wear.
"Our entry conditions do not allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political," said a spokesman for Tennis Australia on the incident, assuring: "Peng Shuai's safety is our primary concern."
Banners have also been removed
Tennis Australia continues to "work with the WTA and the global tennis community to gain more clarity on their situation and we will do whatever we can to ensure their wellbeing." The footage also shows Australian Open staff removing a banner.
Concerns about Peng Shuai remain high. In November, the former double world number one reported sexual abuse by China's former Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli in a short article on the Chinese short message service Weibo.
Her subsequent absence from the public led to protests and calls from numerous prominent colleagues and institutions for independently verifiable safety guarantees for the athlete.