“Many people are saying there are suspicions here and there," Bach added. With 50 days to go before the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, the IOC president explained to the German television channel ZDF that the vast majority of countries participating in next years Olympic and Paralympic Games had not announced a diplomatic boycott. "For the rest we can only report what she reported in the call.” Thomas Bach has joined a long line of IOC chiefs who have been hated by everyone associated with the Games. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said diplomatic boycotts by the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom ahead of the 2022. “In the running of the calls we all were having the same impression that we could not feel her being under pressure," Bach said. He was thought to be referring to IOC member from China, Li Lingwei, He said that other parties were involved in the first two calls including what he termed a “native Chinese on the call.” “Why don’t you respect Peng Shuai in this and let her decide where her priorities are," Bach said. No transcript of the calls was provided by the IOC, and Bach has never mentioned her sexual assault allegations against former Politburo Standing Committee member Zhang Gaoli. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova was suggested to Bach.īach said Peng's wishes had to be respected, and he said she has asked for privacy. He said the IOC was open to more calls and did not rule out an “independent” party being involved. Bach said the IOC initiated both calls with Chinese sports officials.