Celebrating Chinese-Canadians in Sports

Table tennis anyone? That's the question!

Last weekend we checked out the latest exhibition at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Chinatown that is coincidentally sort of tied to the World Cup in Vancouver.

Entitled Momentum: Power and Identity in Sports, the exhibition showcases Chinese-Canadian athletic talent in all kinds of disciplines, like ice hockey and basketball, Canadian football, figure skating, snowboarding and swimming.

Many cool items on display at the exhibition

It's a fantastic way to celebrate these people who have excelled in their sport at the highest level. There's Patrick Chan, who has medalled three times in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics, Lori Fung, who won the first gold in rhythmic gymnastics in 1984, and Norman Kwong the first person of Chinese heritage who played football for the Calgary Stampeders and the Edmonton Eskimos, and was even the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta.

On display are Chan's ice skates and one of his medals from Sochi that looks banged-up, Fung's gymnastic suit and ribbons, and a giant pair of sneakers that Zach Edey wore while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA! Edey's mother is the daughter of Chinese immigrants in Toronto.

There's also some other Asian artists whose work are in the show. Visitors are first greeted by an indoor tennis table that has the words "Tomorrow Is The Question" in caps by Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. I've seen his work over the years, with other tennis tables written with "Demain Est La Question".

Tiravanija's thought-provoking message

But most interesting are Tiravanija's works where he takes newspapers from a specific city and writes thought-provoking messages. 

The first and most memorable one I saw at Art Basel Hong Kong one year featured the message, "Freedom Cannot Be Simulated" written on the pages of the South China Morning Post newspaper.

There's also a funny animation called "Furry Ball" about what happens to a golf ball by Hong Kong artist Wong Ping, and photographs of young female field hockey players by Canadian-Malaysian artist Felicia Chang.

Momentum: Power and Identity in Sports is on until July 19, 2026.

Chinese Canadian Museum

51 East Pender Street

Vancouver

 

WTA Makes U-Turn on China Boycott

Peng's safety has not been independently verified

Now that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in China, professional tennis is back on in the country.

Sixteen months ago, the WTA or Women's Tennis Association said it would stop all professional tennis tournaments in China until it got assurances about star player Peng Shuai's safety.

Many praised the association for its strong stance, as other groups, like the NBA, Fifa and the International Olympic Committee wavered because they wanted to be in China for money.

She accused Zhang (above) of sexual assault

But like everyone else, the WTA caved in.

On Thursday the association released a statement announcing the resumption of professional women's tennis tournaments in September. For Hong Kong fans, the WTA Tour will be held in Victoria Park in October.

This was good news for Hong Kong Tennis Association president Philip Mok Kwan-yet, who welcomed the announcement, but "did not agree" with the WTA's 16-month boycott of China.

"We support this decision [to lift the suspension]," he said. "Together with the lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions, fans can once again enjoy world class professional tennis.

"Restarting this mega sport event will also help Hong Kong to fully regain its vibrancy and re-establish ourselves as a major international hub."

The WTA suspended tennis competition in China in 2021 when Peng, a former doubles world No. 1 from China, made accusations that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli pressured her to have sex with him.

Peng at a tightly choreographed event

Peng, 37, later withdrew her accusations on two occasions, and during an interview at the Winter Olympics, described the situation as a "huge misunderstanding" but did not further clarify. She was seen in public, but it seemed like the events were tightly controlled, and no media can contact her directly.

In Thursday's statement, the WTA said it had received assurances that players and staff operating in China would be "safe and protected".

WTA president and chief executive Steve Simon said the association had dropped its demands.

"We've been in this for 16 months and we are convinced that at this point our requests will not be met. To continue with the same strategy doesn't make sense and a different approach is needed. Hopefully, by returning more progress can be made," he told BBC Sport.

But human rights groups are disappointed by the association's U-turn. 

Kai Ong, China researcher for Amnesty International, said Peng's freedom and safety had yet to be independently verified. 

Will people continue to wear these T-shirts?

"Returning to China without continuing to push for an independent investigation into Peng's accusations risks perpetuating the systemic injustice faced by sexual violence survivors in the country."

Meanwhile Wang Yaqiu, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch said: "The WTA deserves credit for its initial stance, which was an act of courage, but the decision to move ahead with the tournament will be a huge disappointment for the Chinese human rights community. It is not surprising though, given the money at stake and the record of other international businesses in China."

China sports commentator Mark Dreyer says it's disingenuous for the WTA to say it suspended tournaments because of the Peng Shuai issue when in fact the country's extreme Covid-19 restrictions made it impossible to hold tournaments during that boycott period as hardly any foreigners could get into the country.

So... while the players will be excited to play in China, the WTA is going to be criticised for selling out... 

Wonder if people will continue to wear "Where is Peng Shuai?" T-shirts?