China's Peng Shuai plays against Japan's Nao Hibino on Jan. 21, 2020.KIM HONG-JI/Reuters
IOC president Bach says Peng Shuai can move freely in China
IOC president Thomas Bach says Peng Shuai has told Olympic officials she can move freely in Beijing and spend time with family and friends. Bach’s promised dinner with the tennis player is widely anticipated amid global concern for her safety after she accused a former Chinese Communist Party official of sexual assault. Peng’s brief public appearances in the three months since have not assured tennis officials and human-rights activists of her well-being. The IOC and Bach have been criticized for taking part in video conferences with her that could not be independently verified. Bach says “we will know better about her physical integrity and about her mental state when we can finally meet in person.”
Hundreds of Tibetans protest outside IOC headquarters
Hundreds of Tibetans marched Thursday outside the Swiss headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, demanding freedom for their region as Beijing prepares to host the Winter Games. Waving placards bearing messages such as “Save Tibet” and “No More Bloody Games,” Tibetan expatriates from across Europe sought to send a message to China’s ruling Communist Party. Behind a tiny police escort, demonstrators waving scores of Tibetan flags were joined by a handful of men in monk-like robes and about a dozen supporters of China’s Muslim Uyghur minority. China doesn’t recognize the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile and accuses exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of seeking to separate Tibet from China.
Downhill training could be affected by wind
Strong winds could delay the start of the second downhill training session on Friday at the Beijing Olympics. Race organizers say there is only “a little window” expected in the forecast to hold the session. The world’s best skiers got a chance to see the Rock course up close for the first time in the opening training session. Other training sessions are scheduled Friday and Saturday before the men’s downhill opens the Alpine program on Sunday. Friday’s training is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. but the gondola taking the athletes up to the summit may not be able to open because of strong winds. Temperatures are set to be extremely cold with highs of minus-28 expected.
More positive tests for COVID
Organizers have announced 55 more positives tests for COVID-19 at the Beijing Olympics. The updated daily figure includes 26 cases among the athletes and team officials from about 68,000 tests. Thirteen of them were found on arrival in Beijing and the other 13 were from daily PCR tests. The other 29 cases were from workers and accredited staff. Among those testing positive are: Nordic combined star Jarl Magnus Riiber of Norway, Czech hockey star David Krejci, German pairs figure skater Nolan Seegert and Czech Republic ski jumpers Viktor Polasek and Cestmir Koziek. A total of 287 COVID-19 cases have been recorded since Jan. 23. Those people were put into isolation. The IOC said Wednesday at least 11 people have been treated at a hospital but none were serious cases.
LA Games get ‘three iconic West Coast sports’
Skateboarding, surfing and sports climbing have officially been added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The decision by the International Olympic Committee was expected after its executive board agreed to an initial list of 28 sports in December. Los Angles organizers have welcomed the “three iconic West Coast sports” that made their debuts at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. The IOC is promoting urban sports to attract younger viewers. Boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting have not yet been included. They can be added next year by meeting targets set by the IOC board. Space can also be made for sports suggested by Los Angeles organizers. Those could include breakdancing or baseball and softball. Breakdancing will debut at the 2024 Olympics at the request of the Paris organizers.