State Media Criticizes Fan Behavior
Beijing is stepping up its anti-what it believes to be “aggressive fan culture,” which it alleges is harming Chinese athletes’ performance at the Paris Olympics. This latest restriction fits China’s continuous fight against too much star adulation. Media sources in the state have lately focused on what they characterize as “inappropriate” fan conduct. This covers accusations of referee prejudice and blistering during events. On August 3, table tennis player Chen Meng defeated her colleague Sun Yingsha to grab the gold medal in the women’s singles event, reaching a turning point.
Internet Backlash and Government Intervention
Chen’s triumph set up an outpouring of internet support for Sun even though she lost. Chen’s victory was attacked by supporters who believed Sun’s defeat resulted from Sun’s tiredness after participating in several prior events. This resulted in hostile internet criticism, with many pieces demeaning Chen’s triumph. Chinese social media sites have responded with forceful action, deleting tens of thousands of postings and blacklisting over 800 accounts said to be “spreading negativity and fomenting conflict.”
One controversial incident involved a fan who wished Chen would test positive for a prohibited drug, passing the gold medal to Sun. This remark sparked more anger on the internet and highlighted some supporters’ fierce enthusiasm. Authorities have also detained a 29-year-old woman for disparaging comments directed toward the game. Police said she “maliciously created information and blatantly defamed others, resulting in an adverse impact on society,” but the precise nature of her remarks is yet unknown.
Constant Campaign Against Harmful Celebrity Culture
This restriction on fan conduct is the most recent action in Beijing’s more extensive campaign against what it sees as “toxic” celebrity culture. The Chinese government has already passed policies, including prohibiting celebrity rankings, reorganizing fan groups, and frequently removing “harmful” material from fan sites. Recent publications have attacked sports’ present fan culture even more.
Studies have shown rising worries among “numerous Chinese people” about a “visibly aggressive fan culture that threatens to erode the sporting world.” Authorities have denounced various facets of fan conduct, including loud chanting, flash photography taken during games, and commercializing player memorabilia. According to the state-run news agency, such behavior not only disturbs the training and competitiveness of Chinese athletes but also damages the broader Chinese sports reputation. “The [fan culture] not only affects the training and competition of Chinese athletes but also seriously influences the reputation of Chinese sports,” the news agency said in a recent video segment.
Calls to “enforce strict policies against malicious behaviors” and for sports organizations to “take a firm stance against… fan mania” abound. These calls emphasize the government’s intention to reduce disruptive and harmful fan behavior.
Athlete Views and Historical Alert Notes
The warnings concerning harmful fan culture issued by the Chinese government have not developed just in reaction to current occurrences. The General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Olympic Committee levied fines on spectators who pursued and recorded athletes late last year. They maintained that this kind of action upsets public order, good customs, sportsmanship, and social morals as well as the usual flow of events. The remark underlined that “these ‘low-level fans’ are driven by their love of idols and impulsively make irrational actions that endanger the normal order of events.”
With an eye toward “resolutely putting an end to the spread of the chaos of fan culture to the sports field,” the committee advised Chinese Olympians not to interact with fan groups ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. This rule expresses a general goal of keeping sportsmen in polite and organized surroundings.
Athletes have expressed a want for treatment marked by “respect” within the tumult of fan culture. Especially outspoken on this matter is veteran table tennis player Deng Yaping. She has advised supporters to “express our preferences without attacking others,” supporting a mixed approach to allegiance. Declaring, “We must respect each other and leave space for everyone,” Deng emphasized the importance of mutual regard. Her remarks underline the need to create a polite and encouraging environment for sportsmen and their fans.
Beijing’s ongoing crackdown on violent fan conduct shows a more significant attempt to make sure sports remain a good and polite space free from the excesses of superstar adoration and fan fever. This strategy seeks to balance the adverse effects of rampant fan culture with maintaining the integrity of sporting contests.
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