Photo by Kevin Mueller on Unsplash
Huzzah for Steve Simon, Chairman and CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association. WTA’s Simon has been the one holding China’s feet to the fire over concerns for the safety and freedom of tennis champion Peng Shuai, who publicly accused former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault early in November. Her tweet got 20 minutes of airtime before it was yanked. She has not been seen publicly since, aside from an unconvincing video call with the IOC (and Chinese officials, natch) and videos of Peng at a restaurant released two weeks ago by the Chinese government. There’s been an eerie silence since.
“This video alone is insufficient,” said Simon in a November 20 statement. “As I have stated from the beginning, I remain concerned about Peng Shuai’s health and safety and that the allegation of sexual assault is being censored and swept under the rug. I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”
A David and Goliath fight is shaping up.
Not that the WTA is puny in its own right. The professional association promotes more than 2,500 players representing 92 nations competing for a record $129 million in prize money at the WTA’s 55 events and four Grand Slams in 33 countries.
But with top line revenues just north of $100 million, WTA has a lot to lose in a spitting match with the second largest economy in the world. Some estimate that Simon’s insistence on ensuring Peng Shuai’s safety and freedom threatens up to $1 billion in revenue in lost venues and sponsorships. China is huge for WTA with 10 tournaments on the books for 2022.
But Simon is not backing down. “We have to start as a world making decisions that are based on right and wrong, period,” he said in an interview with CNN.” On Wednesday Simon put his money where his mouth is. With the full support of the WTA Board, he announced the suspension of all “WTA tournaments in China, including in Hong Kong” until there is a “full and transparent investigation—without censorships.”
“We’re definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it,” he said, making the WTA the only major sports organization to take the tough stance. “If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded — equality for women — would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.”
The WTA’s principled leadership stands in sharp contrast to the tepid response of the well-heeled IOC, which is conflicted, if not compromised, by the lucrative winter Beijing Olympics coming up in February. Neither have the major US sponsorship companies managed to speak out strongly for Peng. WTA’s brother tennis organization also has been pretty mum. And then there’s the NBA with its eye-popping $8 billion in revenues. Following its own moral collapse against China a few years ago, the nation’s wealthiest professional sports association is sitting this one out.
Observing the glaring courage gap is Winston Lord, former US ambassador to China and former member of the WTA global advisory board. “The proportionate financial stakes of the WTA in China dwarf those of the cowardly NBA and other sports groups,” he said. “I hope, but do not expect, this step will serve to shame and galvanize other organizations and businesses to counter the economic intimidation and political bullying of China.”
Maybe we’re at a tipping point. Simon’s refusal to elevate profit over principle gives political and economic cover to less courageous firms. With greater moral capital than financial, tiny WTA has aced the serve. How will China return?
Game on.