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China's Men's Hockey Team May not play at its Home WOGs


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Apparently, the Chinese Men's Hockey Team (which gets an automatic bye in the tournament, as host country) may be purposely eliminated to save it from great 1st round embarrassment being in the same pool as the USA and Canada. 

China Could Be Kicked Out of Olympic Hockey Tournament - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

No word yet on their Women;s Hockey team.  Either way, it seems to be lose-lose situation for China.  Well, they can' muscle in on everything.  

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38 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Apparently, the Chinese Men's Hockey Team (which gets an automatic bye in the tournament, as host country) may be purposely eliminated to save it from great 1st round embarrassment being in the same pool as the USA and Canada. 

China Could Be Kicked Out of Olympic Hockey Tournament - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

No word yet on their Women;s Hockey team.  Either way, it seems to be lose-lose situation for China.  Well, they can' muscle in on everything.  

Isn't it a privilege to the host nation to have an automatic qualify in all sports, independent from the national team level?, its not like in 2008 china had the best handball team and they still participated

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1 hour ago, Chris_Mex said:

Isn't it a privilege to the host nation to have an automatic qualify in all sports, independent from the national team level?, its not like in 2008 china had the best handball team and they still participated

At this point in time they are playing in the tournament because as you said they are the Host country.

However, this precedent is being considered is because the China Ice Hockey Team are of an “insufficient sporting standard”.

From this CBS Sports Report - 29Oct21:

”Watching a team being beaten 15-0 is not good for anyone,  not for China, or for ice hockey.  If China gets replace, 11th-ranked Norway would likey take their spot in the tournament.”

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1 hour ago, TorchbearerSydney said:

Yes, a host nation can graciously turn down a tournament place, or suggest its team 'qualify' through normal processes (ie get knocked out that way)...I think Brazil refused a couple of team placements for Rio?

NHL ice hockey players did not compete in 2018 PyeongChang “after participating in five straight Olympics from 1998-2014” in this NHL report 11 July 2020 because the NHL did not want to pause or disrupt the ice hockey season for the Winter Olympics.

NHL players are heading to Beijing Olympics in 2022 according to this ESPN report of 4 September.

With the qualification tournaments already held for Beijing 2022, China are in for a massacre in Group A in with Canada, USA and Germany.  

Whether China has already been asked to withdraw behind the scenes is unknown but I’m guessing that they have been asked to withdraw.  If China did withdraw it’s team willingly, in their own eyes China would “lose face” in the international community because backing down is a humiliation and totally against their culture.

Hence the current speculation that they may well be removed from the Olympic tournament anyway (against their will).

This story still has got a fair bit to play out.

Here’s another report:

 

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8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

I couldn’t read the NY Times article as it requires a paid subscription.

My bad.  I just assume that everyone can view a few free articles each month.  There are 2.  But China isn't too thrilled to entertain Canadian-Chinese or American-Chinese in their ranks.  They have a very xenophobic zeitgeist now, and of course, they can't wait to get their bloody hands on Taiwan too.    From the article. . . 
 

Quote

China, though, has strict nationality rules and does not recognize dual citizenship, making sporting switches harder than they would be in many countries. Before they can compete for China, athletes born abroad are required to give up their previous nationalities and even undertake education in the values of the Communist Party. The process can take several years to complete.

Also, re that "Strength, Love Courage" video, it was made before the IIHC has decided to act on China's chances in the men's tournament.  I think they will keep their team, regardless of results, just to save face.  

Edited by baron-pierreIV
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