NBA Commissioner issued a new statement Tuesday as the sports league battled accusations from lawmakers in both parties that it had bowed to pressure from China in expressing regret over an executive's tweet of support for demonstrators in Hong Kong.
Silver said he recognized that the league's initial statement had left people "Angered, confused or unclear on who we are or what the NBA stands for," and then insisted it would continue to offer support for free expression by players and executives.
ADVERTISEMENT. At the same time, Silver made it clear the NBA would not be taking sides in the political dispute over civil rights in Hong Kong.
"It is inevitable that people around the world - including from America and China - will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences," Silver said in the statement.
The NBA found itself at the center of controversy after Houston Rockets general manager tweeted support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
In the new statement, Silver insisted the NBA was not just about growing its business in China.
He said the NBA had "Developed a great affinity" for the people of China and had seen how basketball could deepen ties between the United States and China.
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/464844-nba-commissioner-urges-sports-as-unifying-force-amid-china-controversy
Silver said he recognized that the league's initial statement had left people "Angered, confused or unclear on who we are or what the NBA stands for," and then insisted it would continue to offer support for free expression by players and executives.
ADVERTISEMENT. At the same time, Silver made it clear the NBA would not be taking sides in the political dispute over civil rights in Hong Kong.
"It is inevitable that people around the world - including from America and China - will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences," Silver said in the statement.
The NBA found itself at the center of controversy after Houston Rockets general manager tweeted support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
In the new statement, Silver insisted the NBA was not just about growing its business in China.
He said the NBA had "Developed a great affinity" for the people of China and had seen how basketball could deepen ties between the United States and China.
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/464844-nba-commissioner-urges-sports-as-unifying-force-amid-china-controversy
No comments:
Post a Comment