The International Olympic Committee was under siege. Peng Shuai, a three-time Olympian from China, had not been heard from for weeks after making sexual abuse allegations against a senior political official, a man who had played
a central role in preparations for the coming Winter Games in Beijing. Initially silent on the disappearance of Peng, a women’s tennis star, Olympic officials were now facing a growing global chorus of concern. The WTA Tour, through its chief executive, was
demanding answers and an investigation. Fellow tennis stars like
Serena Williams and
Naomi Osaka — but also
human rights groups,
politicians and everyday fans — were using social media to ask #WhereIsPengShuai?
Media organizations were flooding the internet with news coverage. Cornered by the criticism, the I.O.C. finally responded. This, Olympic officials insisted, was a time not for public statements but for “
quiet diplomacy.”