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Russia, judging, COVID, China … Olympics just can’t escape controversy

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By on Sport
Russia, judging, COVID, China … Olympics just can’t escape controversy

The Olympics wouldn’t be the Olympics without a scandal or two.

It’s simply not a Summer or Winter Games without doping or judging issues entering the conversation.

Considering the current state of the world, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’ve got that and more at the Beijing Olympics – an event that has faced diplomatic boycotts from several countries, including Canada.

The latest controversy arose overnight as the IOC delayed the medal ceremony for the team figure skating event.

A legal issue involving an anti-doping test taken by Kamila Valieva, the 15-year-old figure skating phenom from Russia who was expected to contend for the women’s gold, is reportedly the reason the medal ceremony for the Olympic team figure skating competition in Beijing was delayed, according to insidethegames.

Valieva, who led the women’s singles standings in both the short program and free skating, played a pivotal role in Russia winning the team event, which took place on Monday. The medal ceremony was supposed to be held Tuesday night, but was delayed because of a legal issue, an IOC spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Canada finished fourth in the event.

Here’s a look at some of the other stories causing debates after less than a week of competition in Beijing:

Peng Shuai situation

The IOC has met with the Chinese tennis star, and Peng also has attended Olympic events and done an interview with a French publication. But one of the L’Equipe journalists told The Associated Press he is unsure if Peng can do or say what she wants after the restrictive interview arranged with Chinese Olympic officials. Allegations she made of forced sex with a former top-ranked Communist Party official triggered a global outpouring of fears for her safety last year.

Russian women’s hockey COVID concerns

The Russians have eight players unavailable in Beijing. A Canada-Russia game was delayed by more than an hour earlier this week because some of the Russian COVID tests were late. Both teams agreed to wear masks, but the Russians took theirs off in the third period. The next day, another Russian player tested positive. Finland wore masks for their game that night against the Russians. The side with the COVID concerns did not. “We’ve decided as a team that it’s not our place to comment on issues regarding health on other teams,” a Team Finland spokesperson said in an email to Sportsnet. “We got the info necessary before the game and made our decisions based on that.”

Australian curlers out, then in

Australia’s mixed doubles curling team thought it was out of the Olympics on Sunday when Tahli Gill tested positive for COVID. But later that day, the Australians were given a late reprieve following an urgent meeting of the medical expert panel. Gill contracted COVID-19 before the Games. Ongoing testing alternated between negative and positive. In last place at the time, Australia won its final two games, including a surprise victory over Canada. The Canadians ended up falling one win short of the playoffs.

South Korea livid at short-track judges

The South Koreans have filed complaints with the International Skating Union and IOC after two of their short-track speedskaters were disqualified. The head of the country’s delegation called an emergency press conference to discuss his concerns. That move came a day after Korean skater Kwak Yoon-gy said he felt China got preferential treatment on a ruling in a relay race.

Isolation conditions slammed by athletes, officials

Athletes forced into isolation because of positive COVID tests have voiced complaints about the conditions. Dirk Schimmelpfennig, the head of the German delegation, called the conditions “unreasonable.” Finland men’s hockey coach Jukka Jalonena said officials were not respecting the human rights of one of his players in isolation.

Ski jumpers disqualified for outfit violations

Five female ski jumpers were booted out of the mixed team event for outfit violations. The sport’s rule links suit size and ski length to body weight. Heavily favoured Germany missed the final because of the call. Canada ended up winning its first ever Olympic ski jumping medal: a bronze.

Citizenship questions for American-born Chinese ski champ

Teenage ski star Eileen Gu thrilled the host country when she won freestyle big air gold. Born and raised in San Francisco, she has chosen to represent China – her mother’s homeland. But she would not answer whether she has renounced her American citizenship after the win – China does not allow dual citizenship. Peng also attended Gu’s event, causing Gu to be asked questions about the tennis player.

Olympic flame call criticized

Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang was chosen as one of two Chinese athletes to light the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremony – drawing criticism from the international community because of Chinese human rights violations to Uyghurs. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in an interview with CNN, called it an attempt by China to distract the world from human rights concerns. Yilamujiang did not talk to reporters after finishing 43rd in her race.

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