One newspaper reveals that the television commentary on the failure of Liu Xiang at the London Olympics was pre-organized: the journalists knew that he would not have competed and government propaganda ordered silence. Government, media and Olympic coach accused: "You have fooled us."

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - "You lied to us, cheated our feelings. You guys are rubbish " is one of the comments that appeared on Chinese blogs after the revelations about the seriousness of Liu Xiang's injury, kept hidden from the general public. It has just emerged that journalists and state television knew that Liu could not compete at the 1100m obstacles at the London Olympics, but the government office of propaganda formally requested their silence.

The athlete from Shanghai, gold medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, is one of the most acclaimed idols in China. In London millions of Chinese spectators broke into tears when he fell at the first hurdle of 110 meters. The CCTV commentator, Yang Jian almost in tears broke into an elegy: "He is 29 years old, but is a tired athlete... It's time for him to rest ... If an athlete does not have good legs, is like a soldier without a gun. "

According to the newspaper Oriental Guardian, the commentary was a prepared script because "Liu Xiang knew, the government knew. Only viewers were waiting for a miracle."

The paper said that the Yang Jian revealed that journalists knew his conditions were not good, but had been ordered not to talk about it. Knowing that Liu Xiang would have failed in the race, they had prepared four types of comments, perfectly played by Yang Jian at the time.

In fact, as soon as Liu Xiang arrived in London, the coach and managers knew that his right foot which has been hampered for years with an Achilles tendon injury, was causing him problems. In May 2008, a few months before the Beijing Olympics, he had been operated on, but never fully recovered. Even in Beijing, Liu Xiang stumble out of the departure blocks to general dismay, this because he had been transformed into the icon and idol of the Olympics.

In the days following the London race, Liu said himself that thought he was good enough to race, his coach "did not know" the condition of the athlete's heel...

Now, there are a million comments on the internet accusing athlete, coach, Olympic leaders and even the government of having mocked the Chinese population. One blogger commented bitterly: "This can only happen in China. Acting and fraud and many skills are learnt from the government."

 

• china
• Liu
• Xiang
• olympics
• fraud
• media
• government
• public
• outrage