Jowell calls for Chinese child abuse inquiry
A full inquiry into allegations of child abuse in China’s sports schools should be held, culture secretary Tessa Jowell said today.
Her comments come after four-time Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent yesterday told Today that during a trip to Beijing he believed Chinese coaches were hitting young gymnasts who made mistakes in class.
“What Matthew has seen will have to be investigated,” she said.
“We simply cannot have young people in a sense being sacrificed in the interests of medal glory.”
Beijing is set to host the next Olympics in 2008 but is certain to come under fire if any wrongdoing or human rights violations are uncovered.
The revelation comes four days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched a set of guidelines to help train children safely and effectively.
But the IOC has cautioned not to “jump to conclusions, but make judgments on clear facts”.
