Seeing just the numbers '6' and '4' triggers trauma... China immediately censors photos at the Asian Games

Photo Immediately After Women's 100m Hurdles Final
Scene of Lane 6 and Lane 4 Athletes Hugging
Seems Censored as It Reminds of '6·4 Tiananmen Protests'

A scene seemingly symbolizing the '6·4 Tiananmen Democracy Protests,' which are even banned from mention in China, was accidentally staged at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, leading to the official media censoring the photo.

Athletes captured during the women's 100m hurdles event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. In the preliminary round, the numbers 8 and 9, reminiscent of 1989, appeared, while in the final, the numbers 6 and 4, reminiscent of June 4, were shown together. / Photo by X (formerly Twitter) capture

A Warm Embrace Between Gold and Silver Medalists... The Accidental '6·4' Scene Leads to Sudden Photo Deletion

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 4th, immediately after the women's 100m hurdles final at the Hangzhou Asian Games on October 1, China's National Day, Lin Yuwei, who won the gold medal, hugged her compatriot and silver medalist Wu Yanni on the track.

The heartwarming scene of Chinese athletes embracing after winning gold and silver medals side by side was also posted on the social media (SNS) WeChat account of China Central Television (CCTV), a Chinese state media outlet.

On the 1st, immediately after the women's 100m hurdles final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Lin Yuwei (left) of China, who won the gold medal, is seen hugging her teammate Wu Yanni. The numbers attached to their uniforms coincidentally formed "6·4," symbolizing the Tiananmen Square democracy protests.

However, the photo was suddenly deleted afterward.

This was because Lin Yuwei, running in lane 6, wore a uniform with the number 6, and Wu Yanni, running in lane 4, wore a uniform with the number 4, so their embrace accidentally formed '6·4.'

The media reported, "The censorship of this photo has become a subject of ridicule on Hong Kong's popular internet community 'LIHKG.'"

A Hong Kong netizen sarcastically commented, "The external forces with hidden intentions deliberately played a small trick to politicize the sacred Asian Games."

Hong Kong and Taiwan Commemorate 'June 4th'... But China Censors All Reminders of Tiananmen

A famous Chinese influencer (left) was live streaming on June 3 last year when a tank-shaped ice cream cake (center) appeared.
[Photo by Taobao Live capture]

'6·4' refers to June 4, 1989, when Chinese authorities violently suppressed citizens demanding democracy at Beijing's Tiananmen Square, making it a subject of censorship by Chinese authorities. Human rights activists estimate that from hundreds to thousands lost their lives calling for democracy and openness during the Tiananmen massacre.

Therefore, in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan, every year on June 4th, people hold candlelight vigils at 6:04 PM to honor the victims of the Tiananmen protests. However, in China, even mentioning it is prohibited.

Previously, on the eve of the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen incident last June, a popular Chinese influencer's live broadcast was abruptly cut off after showing viewers a vanilla cake resembling a tank. Authorities monitored the broadcast and quickly blocked it when the cake's shape appeared similar to a tank.

Within China, public opinion about the Tiananmen incident is strictly controlled. Wu Yanni, who won the silver medal in the event, was later disqualified for a false start.

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