Tag Archives: Xi Jinping

Football

CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT

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Detention of ex-Everton Star Li Tie Sparks Biggest Government Crackdown in a Decade

by a SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

China Sports Insider is delighted to publish the following contribution from a special correspondent, who wishes to remain anonymous. All details contained in this article have been translated from Chinese-language reports published on well-known Chinese websites, including official announcements on people detained for investigation etc.

PART 1 – The Online Sacrifice of a Greedy Icon

Like all good football corruption enquiries, the shocking criminal investigations playing out this winter in China started with complete silence. Early last November, one of the biggest stars in Chinese football disappeared. From a training session. According to reports, he told the other participants that he was going to “take some pictures”. He probably added, “I may be some time”.

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Ice Hockey, Olympics

Tokyo Chaos Lowers Bar for Beijing 2022 – and That’s a Shame

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In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:

  • What Tokyo’s ban on Olympic spectators means for Beijing
  • Record Chinese delegation set for Tokyo, as individual sports announces their teams
  • NHL players hold firm with their desire to play in the Olympics
  • Team China hockey rosters starting to take shape
  • The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
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Olympics

300 Days To Go: BioNTech Vaccine in China & Boycott Threats Ease

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There are now just 300 days to go until the Beijing Winter Olympics, but with Tokyo into its final runway – marking 100 days to go this week – the Beijing Olympics are in a bit of a holding pattern. All eyes are now turning towards Japan to see how it handles the Games, and China will no doubt be basing many decisions for 2022 on what happens this summer. But with more concrete news on a possible BioNTech vaccine in China, plus the US backing off its boycott talk – at least for now – it’s certainly been a better week for Beijing Organizing Committee.

Weekly Roundup

  • Government set to approve BioNTech vaccine in China
  • Test events finish second round
  • President Xi pledges “simple, safe and splendid Olympics”
  • “Too early” for US to discuss boycott
  • More boycott news from around the world
  • Other features and stories in the build-up to Beijing 2022
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Olympics

Safe and simple: Beijing 2022’s message with 1 year to go

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The countdown on the official Olympic site for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games shows 365 days to go, but, in Beijing itself, there’s little sign – or feeling – that the Olympics are coming into view.

That will all change, of course, but, for now, it’s all quiet on the eastern front. The reasons for that are obvious: Tokyo and COVID-19. The world’s Olympic focus is very much on Japan right now, with newly released pandemic guides just the latest in the PR campaign to insist that The Games Must Go On.

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General

The future direction of China’s sports policy

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Politics trumps everything in China, so when all the top leaders gather in Beijing for their annual meetings, it’s worth paying attention. Sports is not – it must be stressed – a top priority at the “Two Sessions” or Lianghui, but it does get a mention every now and then. Below are the relevant moments from the week’s major speeches, plus some attempts to read the tea leaves. 

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Column, Football, Motorsport

Xi to stay on, Wanda to get out, Tmall turns to F1 and more Milan misery

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Here’s a summary of what you can find in my weekly China Digest for SportBusiness:

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Column, Football, Olympics

Wigan Athletic takeover, AFC open to offers, China’s Olympic-sized delegation and more

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Here’s a summary of what you can find in my weekly China Digest for SportBusiness:

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Football

Where next for China’s failed football experiment?

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Earlier this year, China and Germany established a high-level football partnership, at the center of which China’s U20 national team was to play a series of games against teams in Germany’s south-west. But a Tibetan protest at the very first game has left the entire cooperation in tatters – and could have ramifications for China’s wider sporting ambitions. 

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Football

Minor deal set to have major repercussions in Chinese football

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A second division Spanish club taking a small stake in a third division Chinese club won’t make global headlines, but it could see the start of a wave of foreign investment in Chinese football, now that outbound acquisitions have effectively been stopped.

A year ago, Chinese companies were rushing full steam ahead to invest in – or buy outright – soccer clubs from around the world. From Aston Villa and West Brom to Espanyol and Inter Milan, the first waves of investment appeared to herald many more deals. This headline in The Telegraph from September last year, for instance, claimed that another 30 Chinese billionaires were looking to buy clubs.

How quickly things change.

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