China "Serious Concerns Over Anti-China Sentiment Related to Olympic Judging"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, Reporter Seo Mideum] Regarding the disqualification of two Korean athletes during the short track speed skating events at the Beijing Winter Olympics, and the subsequent criticism of the Chinese government and the Olympics by some Korean media and politicians, the Chinese government stated that it "cannot help but express serious concerns and declare a firm stance."

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Korea, in a statement posted on the embassy's social media accounts on the 9th, said, "This issue is originally a technical matter that should be judged by professional and authoritative organizations. However, some Korean media and politicians have criticized the Chinese government and the entire Beijing Olympics, even inciting anti-China sentiment, worsening the feelings between the two peoples, and provoking backlash from Chinese netizens."

They continued, "The Chinese government never influences or interferes with competition results. It is irresponsible for certain Korean media outlets and politicians to make baseless claims such as 'there is a dark side to the Winter Olympics' and to arbitrarily say that 'the Chinese government and sports authorities should reflect on this.' We absolutely cannot accept this."

Embassy SNS Account Screenshot

The spokesperson mentioned the fact that advanced technology support, such as ultra-high-speed cameras, was provided for skating events at the Beijing Winter Olympics, that competition rules were revised to maximize athlete safety, and that British referee Peter Worth, an authority who has officiated at three Olympics including Pyeongchang, was involved.

They added, "We want to emphasize that the Winter Olympics is an international sports event where referees for each competition are selected by the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations, and no country or government can interfere."

Furthermore, "Every competition has winners and losers, and we understand the feelings of the Korean public. China will continue to make active efforts to promote friendly relations between the two countries and their peoples," they concluded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.