Olympic champion Liu Xiang posted online last month that the Shanghai Sports Bureau required him to either buy out or work as a coach. In response, the Shanghai Sports Bureau stated that they would “place him properly through organization or allow him to choose his own job.” On September 10, Liu Xiang posted again expressing his disappointment with the official response. He mentioned that since the official result was still pending, he had to announce the outcome himself.
In the morning of September 10, Liu Xiang posted, “So many days have passed, and I still haven’t received the official result. I will just say it myself.”
Firstly, as early as September 1, I have already bought out for 494,000 RMB. In the future, there is no longer any relation with the sports bureau.
Secondly, from April 7, 2015, until now, all income including salary and subsidies totaled 982,935 RMB, which was fully donated to the China Charity Federation for disaster relief from mudslides in Tibet on September 2.
Thirdly, the official statement mentioned handling it according to regulations as “being in the payroll but not in a job.” Since my retirement, I have never received any placement or job position. Every year, the country regulates and rectifies the issue of “being in the payroll but not in a job.” Why, after 11 years, am I suddenly given the ultimatum of choosing one? Regulations have never been an excuse. Just like coaching or buying out, after 11 years, it is no longer a choice.
Fourthly, by shedding light on this “placement” matter, it is not to let public opinion exert pressure to seek a third way. On the contrary, being seen by society, being discussed by the public, having equal information exchange, will only make this society more orderly, which is the sign of progress in this era.
Liu Xiang’s aforementioned posts immediately sparked high attention from netizens and received numerous comments.
“It should expose all these hidden motives, regardless of dignity or not.” “The buyout fee is only 494,000? I’ve seen some data before (not guaranteed), even non-world champion athletes in popular events are worth more than this amount. Is the top Asian track and field athlete worth this little money?” “I don’t care about this money, it’s also to fight for what retired athletes deserve.” “What can the number of gold medals explain?”
On August 26, Liu Xiang posted, “Encountered a dilemma: hope the vast number of netizens can give me some advice. Shanghai Sports Bureau asked me to choose between buying out or working as a coach. What should I do?”
The topic labeled “Liu Xiang seeking help” shot up on Weibo’s hot search list, sparking widespread attention across the internet.
Subsequently, the Shanghai Sports Bureau responded that on the afternoon of August 26, the Shanghai Municipal Athletic Sports Training Management Center communicated with Liu Xiang to properly place him through organization or allow him to choose his own job.
That night, Liu Xiang posted again criticizing the Shanghai Sports Bureau, saying, “Keep joking around, I never left. It’s not that I don’t want to leave, but you didn’t let me leave. 11 years later, suddenly you want to ‘place’ me. Choosing between being a coach or buying out leaves me puzzled. Without a third option to choose, seeking opinions from a large number of netizens is indeed to know how to make a choice.”
On September 3, personnel from the Shanghai Municipal Athletic Sports Training Management Center confirmed to “Taishan Lookout” that the personnel relationship of Olympic champion Liu Xiang still belongs to their unit and has not changed. The final placement plan will be announced on the official website at a later date. This response was in reference to Liu Xiang’s plea for help on social media on August 26.
At the age of 43 in 2004, Liu Xiang broke the Olympic record with a time of 12.91 seconds in the men’s 110 meters hurdles final at the Athens Olympics, winning the gold medal and becoming China’s first male Olympic champion in track and field. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Liu Xiang withdrew from the men’s 110 meters hurdles heats due to a recurrence of his right Achilles tendon injury. In the 2012 London Olympics, he stumbled over the first hurdle in the heats and ended up hopping on one leg to the finish line.
In 2015, Liu Xiang retired. Previously, he served as the Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau Youth League Committee, which is not a civil service position. After retiring, his personnel relationship with the Shanghai sports system has continued to this day. Liu Xiang stated that since his retirement, he has not received any placement or job position.