Tennis Australia maintains that Peng Shuai’s safety is its “primary concern” despite asking fans at Melbourne Park to remove their shirts and a banner reading “Where is Peng Shuai?”
Players at the Australian Open have continued to express concern for the well-being of the Chinese tennis player who in early November accused a senior Chinese official of sexual assault.
But tournament officials seized material they deemed to contain political statements.
This weekend, Brisbane activist Drew Pavlou posted a video on Twitter showing bystanders being accosted by security and then Victoria Police.
The footage showed Max Mok, a pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong who recently announced his intention to contest Chisholm’s fringe Melbourne seat in this year’s federal election, and a bystander chatting with a member of Hong Kong security. TA who confiscated a banner.
The security officer also asked the two to remove their T-shirts that featured a photo of Peng on the front below the word “Wanted.” “Where is Peng Shuai?” was printed on the back of the jersey.
Mok inquired as to the reason for the seizures and a police officer was called to explain that the material violated TA’s policy prohibiting political statements.
“I’m not saying you can’t have those opinions, but Tennis Australia sets the rules here,” the police officer said.
TA on Sunday confirmed that was the case.
“Based on our ticket conditions of entry, we do not allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political,” a spokesperson for Tennis Australia told Guardian Australia.
“Peng Shuai’s safety is our main concern. We continue to work with the WTA and the global tennis community to seek further clarity on her situation and will do everything we can to ensure her well-being.”
TA has had little to say about Peng, who disappeared from public life for nearly three months after her Weibo post accusing former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of alleged sexual assault. It was quickly removed from China’s heavily censored Internet.
The Australian governing body has found itself in an uneasy balancing act given that one of the Australian Open’s main trading partners is Chinese premium spirits brand Guojiao 1573.
By contrast, the Women’s Tennis Association has been adamant that it will not hold any tournaments in China in 2022. Its president and CEO, Steve Simon, said he was putting “principles before profit”, which means the WTA was ready. sacrificing a significant part of its annual income, which comes from dealings with the world superpower.
Pavlou tweeted that he “tried to reason with police over the phone” and in footage, officers are seen speaking to someone on speakerphone. Pavlou has since created a fundraising page to raise money to print more shirts that will be given out for free during the women’s final.
The page, which had raised $6,800 in 24 hours, vowed to “raise as much buzz as possible.”
“Sadly, Tennis Australia has not taken such a strong stance in favor of human rights and basic standards of justice,” he says.
“In fact, Tennis Australia called the police on human rights activists at the 2022 Australian Open simply for wearing shirts that asked the same question that Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and fans around the world have asked: ‘Where is he? Peng Shuai?’”
Osaka reiterated that stance last week before her departure from the Open, saying she was “proud” of the way the WTA had handled the issue.
“If I were in his position, I would like people to care about me too,” Osaka said. “I imagine myself in his shoes and, in that way, it’s a little scary. But you want to lend your voice and you want people to ask the questions.”
Victoria Azarenka, a member of the WTA players’ council, said she had not heard from Peng directly.
“There has not been much development in terms of contact with Peng Shuai, although we will continue to make every effort on our part to make sure that she is safe, that she feels comfortable,” Azarenka said.
“Hopefully we’ll hear from her personally at some point. I think that’s the goal, the main goal at the moment.”
Ash Barty was also asked about the situation and said “we are all looking out for his safety.”
“We all hope she’s okay,” the Australian world number one said. “We hope she is okay. Hopefully it won’t be long before we see her back here.”
www.theguardian.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism