Tag Archives: Xinjiang

Olympics

40 Weeks To Go: Cotton Socks, Robotaxis & Tchaikovsky

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It’s really quite extraordinary that there are only 40 weeks to go until the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and yet we still have no idea what it’s going to look like, or even who will be there. Ticketing has yet to start, sponsors have little idea what they can do – and we won’t have answers to any of these questions (and more) for several more months at least.

But that is the COVID reality. For one of the most meticulously planned events in the world, flexibility has become a necessary. It’s unsettling, but in the context of the rest of the global headlines, it’s still fairly inconsequential.

The IOC has its hands overflowing with Tokyo logistics right now, but it’s already taking center stage for Beijing, with allegations of suppliers sourcing from Xinjiang and suppressions of freedom over the Rule 50 refresh. The fun continues…

Weekly Roundup

  • IOC in cotton debate over Anta uniforms
  • Chinese athletes skew IOC protest poll on Rule 50
  • FIS Presidential candidate pumps China’s tires
  • Russian anthem to be replaced by Tchaikovsky
  • More boycott news from around the world
  • Other features and stories in the build-up to Beijing 2022
Continue reading 40 Weeks To Go: Cotton Socks, Robotaxis & Tchaikovsky →
Olympics

45 Weeks To Go: To Watch or Not To Watch?

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Lots happening this week: Tokyo confirmed that overseas spectators would not be allowed to enter Japan for the Olympics this summer, leading to immediate questions over fans at the Beijing Olympics. Then, a number of brands put out statements on Xinjiang, angering Chinese consumers, and widening the discussion about activities in China in the build up to the Games.

Weekly Roundup

  • Will overseas spectators be allowed at the Beijing Olympics?
  • Global brands put out statements on Xinjiang – and face the backlash
  • Boycott threats from around the world
  • Other features and stories in the build-up to Beijing 2022
Continue reading 45 Weeks To Go: To Watch or Not To Watch? →
Football

The best own goal you will see this year

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Getting to this a little late, but it’s worth a look… Chris Brass’ broken nose classic still ranks as the best own goal of all time, but this is pretty impressive. At the recent Chinese National Games, teams from Liaoning and Xinjiang combined to produce this moment of magic. It has all the ingredients: the scuffed clearance, the ricochet, the deflection, the whiffed miskick – and, of course, the stunned reactions followed by the embarrassment of realizing that it has been broadcast to the nation on CCTV-5. It doesn’t really matter, but for the record, Xinjiang players are the ones doing the scoring (against themselves). Another fine, fine moment for Chinese soccer.