WATCH – IOC reacts as Chinese security officer drags Dutch reporter during 2022 Winter Olympics

WATCH – IOC reacts as Chinese security officer drags Dutch reporter during 2022 Winter Olympics

Dutch reporter manhandled during 2022 Winter Olympics

The 2022 Winter Olympics have just commenced which was hit by controversy on Day 1 in Beijing. The incident took place when a Dutch reporter covering the Games was manhandled by a Chinese guard during a live shot outside the opening ceremony.

Dutch public broadcasting correspondent Sjoerd den Daas tried to wind up his report while being grabbed, pushed, and yelled at by the red armband-wearing security officer. As a result, the network was cut away from the shot and returned to the studio anchor, a clip from the Friday broadcast showed.

“Our correspondent @sjoerddendaas was pulled away from the camera by security guards at 12.00 pm live in the NOS Journaal. Unfortunately, this is increasingly becoming a daily reality for journalists in China. He is fine and was able to finish his story a few minutes later,” the outlet tweeted in Dutch.

FS Video

However, it was not immediately apparent why den Daas was being ill-treated by the Chinese as he filed his report outside Bird’s Nest Stadium in the capital city.

“Was an unfortunate circumstance” – IOC Spokesperson

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee also commented on this incident while calling it an “unfortunate circumstance”.

“Obviously, we have been in touch with the NOS, the state broadcaster, and it was an unfortunate circumstance,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said. “I think someone was being overzealous. He (the reporter) was able to, very quickly afterwards with the help of officials there, do his piece to camera.”

Widespread human rights violations and mistreatment of Chinese athletes have already cast a pall over the ongoing 2022 Winter Games.

Some media reports even suggest that Beijing had ordered international athletes not to talk about China’s aggression, oppression or genocidal abuses during the games. The Communists’ bizarre rules also banned fans and athletes from cheering and prohibited overseas spectators.

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