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China Still in Denial Over Olympic Gymnastics Age Scandal
Posted in The Vance Report on 08/18/2008 09:40 am by Robert Vance
Updates to this story: IOC Criticism of Olympic Star Usain Bolt Rings Hollow
IOC Finally Takes Action on Olympic Gymnastics Age Scandal
“We always knew they were under sixteen years old,” a group of Chinese students told me yesterday. “We had no idea that there was an age limit for gymnastics in the Olympics. If there really is, then China did break the rules.” We were discussing the real possibility that three members of China’s gold medal winning Olympic gymnastics team did not meet the minimum age requirement of 16 years old to compete. Chinese students and other friends of mine have said that as late as last week, Chinese state run television had admitted that Yang Yilin, He Kexin, and Jian Yuyuan were under sixteen but that “they should be praised for their skills and determination.” My Chinese colleagues tell me that there has been no mention of any age minimum in gymnastics on television in China.
While it appears that some Chinese people may have been ‘in the dark’ about the minimum age rule in Olympic gymnastics, the same cannot be said about China’s women’s gymnastic team. Yang Yun, who was a double bronze winning Chinese gymnast in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, was originally listed as 16 years of age but later admitted on state television that she was only 14 when she competed. The IOC, which was as spineless eight years ago as it is now, shrugged its shoulders and Yang was permitted to keep her medal. Eight years later in Beijing, it appears that Team China has managed to ‘pull off the same trick’ once again and this time it carried away gold.
“Who cares if there was a rule and the girls broke that rule?” a close Chinese friend of mine asked me yesterday. “Gold medal winners are always criticized. Team USA is just jealous.” Many people, here and abroad, have also asked the same question; does it really matter?
Even if one sets aside the fact that young girls can compete better because of their small bodies and increased flexibility, China’s utter lack of respect for Olympic rules is disturbing. If Team China can so boldly and openly ‘get away’ with this violation, what other rules is it breaking? Does not every country swear to play by the rules? The U.S. should not be the only country complaining; there should be a unified voice amongst the countries of the world condemning China for this latest deception.
The IOC has an obligation to investigate this matter and dole out punishments as necessary. But will it? It is not looking good. After all, the IOC is already ‘running very low’ on credibility considering its willingness to ‘bow’ down to the Chinese government nearly every step of the way leading up to the 2008 Olympic games. If the IOC fails to act on this, there are only two conclusions to be drawn in my opinion; either the IOC greatly fears the wrath of the Chinese government or it is being paid off to keep quiet on this issue. Either way, the IOC has once again proven itself to be a powerless organization that lacks moral integrity and does not deserve to be in charge of such a premier world event.
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08/19/2008 at 4:47 am
You can tell your chinese friend that if that’s the case, Romanian gymnastics, who left home the 13-14 year old fantastic talented gymnasts, could win all the gold just BY BREAKING THE AGE RULE!!! How about that?
08/19/2008 at 11:48 am
Breaking the rules in the Olympics is simply not acceptable. I for one will never again buy a product made in China. If all Americans - and people in other countries did the same - perhaps the Chinese would not be so cavalier about entering underage gymnasts in the Olympics again.
08/19/2008 at 2:16 pm
Funny how the IOC will not hesitate to strip athletes of their medals/titles for other forms of cheating (doping, etc.), but do nothing when the Chinese are repeatedly involved in cheating by age falsification.
Grow a backbone and stop the selective punishments, IOC!!
08/20/2008 at 2:39 pm
IOC Wants Olympic Torrents Off The Pirate Bay, they even send an official letter to the minister of justice in Sweden and asks Sweden to block Pirate Bay. but they can’t even enforce their own rules
08/22/2008 at 5:04 am
“Who cares about breaking the rules” ? No rules, no game.
But this attitude is endemic in China. It’s as if “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” was never translated into Chinese.
Yes, China. As a member of the most developed democracy on the planet, I for one am jealous of your backward communist cluster**** that can’t win unless it cheats.
08/22/2008 at 1:17 pm
How did your “Chinese students” friends know about the actual age? Did they see the passports or ID card? Seems to me everybody is merely thinking with “gut feeling” here.
Yang Yun could very well be bragging during that interview (like”I got medals at that age, hehe…”.) If you Google this, you’ll notice that her age is all over the places. She herself is not consistent about it at all.
Bottom line, let the IOC, FIG run the investigation. I would pre-judge those girls.
08/22/2008 at 1:19 pm
I _wouldn’t_ pre-judge anybody without solid evidence.
08/22/2008 at 6:37 pm
Terry said,
How did your “Chinese students” friends know about the actual age? Did they see the passports or ID card? Seems to me everybody is merely thinking with “gut feeling” here.
Robert says:
Reread my post. The students knew about it from their own state-owned television.
Terry says: Bottom line, let the IOC, FIG run the investigation. I wouldn’t prejudge those girls
Robert says:
Until today, it did not look like the IOC was going to do an investigation. Let’s hope they follow through…
08/23/2008 at 5:25 am
Pollution, euthanasia, Tiananmen Square, Tibet, Communism, Human Rights, unfair global trade…
…does it really surprise you that China would cheat at the Olympics.
Boycott China… http://www.boycottmadeinchina.org
08/24/2008 at 5:50 am
If the IOC can shrug this total disregard of the rules, then they need to be replaced. What is the difference between the athlete who kicked the referee over his decision. He and his coach is banned for life. What is the difference? Rules were broken and they are paying for it. I believe criminal charges be brought up on the people that fudged the documents but we are talking about China. What are they about the integrity of the games here? They dont seem to care. So why should we let them compete in other Olympics. I feel other athletes from the different countries were robbed of a fair chance of winning a medal. China can goto !@#$.
08/24/2008 at 11:30 am
@Ed,
Thanks for your comments. They are well said. The fact is, we are most likely never going to find out what happened because the Chinese are experts at ‘obstruction of justice.’ The research and investigation that would need to be done in China to find the truth would simply be impossible…
08/29/2008 at 2:15 am
It has been apperant to me and my wife that the Chinese lie to gain what they desire. We have an exchange student from China living with us curently. On the sheet that was submitted to us, her english was termed “Superb”. We found out that superb is relative as she hardly understood a word of english. The ends is that she is here in the U.S. going to high school. There is no doubt that the gymnasts in question were under age. This behavior of lying is inherent and anyone who does not believe this believes in Santa Claus. And by the way, my wife is Chinese and attests to this.
08/29/2008 at 9:57 am
@Bill P.
Thanks for your comments. What is sad is that few dare to ‘call’ China on this lying and cheating so they keep getting away with it. In the case of the Olympic gymnastics women team, China once again finds out that they can get away with anything and no one will try to stop them. It will just keep happening.
Unfortunately, education is one institution in China where cheating is the perhaps the most rampant as students will do anything they can to get the best grades and opportunities. Hopefully, this young lady who is staying with you will learn that in America and other countries, the best way to achieve success is to work and study as hard as possible…
09/07/2008 at 11:34 pm
Ask the world to vote. I would agree with the outcome. Are rules to keep the honest out of the game? Ok lets reward the cheater!
09/10/2008 at 4:04 am
I can’t believe how so many people have already jumped into the conclusion that China cheated without any solid evidence. I guess “Innocent until proven guilty” or “Guilty until proven” all depends on the nationality. The latest investigation report says the Chinese gymnasts have submitted to IOC other documents like the school records and old (expired) passports with the foreign stamps. All these are simply fabrications by the Chinese government ?
10/01/2008 at 4:57 pm
She’s not a cheat in my eyes. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Americans are just sore losers.
11/09/2008 at 2:46 am
What is it about the Olympics and other athletic competitions that make people crazy? The Olympics are supposed to be about people worldwide meeting each other to compete in peace and brotherhood. Instead, just about every country is trying to cheat this way or that, and winning is everything. I didn’t even bother watching any more of the Olympics than the opening ceremony; I knew the recriminations and anger would start soon enough.
For those who think that we should return to the “real” Olympics of the past, do they know that everyone competed in the nude? Wow, think of advertising revenue if that happened!
11/15/2008 at 3:04 pm
I agree that the Olympic spirit has been totally lost. The Olympic Games are just another business to make money, and that’s a shame.