FROM human rights to coronavirus and now tennis star Peng Shuai, preparations for February's Beijing Olympics have been overshadowed by several controversies.
China's ruling Communist Party is however determined to frame the Winter Games as a chance for the country to showcase its prowess and help the world unite in the face of the pandemic.
The International Olympic Committee has lauded Beijing for making history in becoming the first host of a Summer Games, in 2008, and now a Winter one.
With just over 70 days to go, AFP Sports takes a look at the issues hanging over the Olympics:
There was grave international concern for former world number one doubles player Peng after she made sexual assault accusations on social media against a former top Communist Party politician.
The 35-year-old -- a three-time Olympian -- was not heard from for more than two weeks and her claims were rapidly censored. The United Nations, US and Peng's fellow tennis stars all voiced fears for her whereabouts.
The Women's Tennis Association threatened to end its lucrative business in China unless it was assured of her safety.
Peng later appeared on state media in several videos and held a video call with IOC president Thomas Bach on Sunday in which she said she was safe and well, however concerns remain.
XinjiangCampaigners say that at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Human rights groups and foreign governments have found evidence of what they say is mass detentions, forced labour, political indoctrination, torture and forced sterilisation.
Washington has described the situation as genocide and banned all cotton from Xinjiang. US President Joe Biden has said he is considering a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics.
Several major fashion brands have announced they would no longer use cotton from Xinjiang for fear it has been produced by forced labour.
After initially denying the existence of the Xinjiang camps, China later defended them as vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.
In response to the boycott calls, China has consistently railed against what it calls the "politicisation of sport".
Tibet, Hong Kong Human rights campaigners and exiles have accused Beijing of religious repression and massively curtailing rights in Tibet.
Activists unfurled a Tibetan flag at the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony in Greece.
Tibet has alternated over the centuries between independence and control by China, which says it "peacefully liberated" the rugged plateau in 1951 and brought infrastructure and education to the previously underdeveloped region.
But many exiled Tibetans accuse the Beijing government of religious repression, torture and eroding their culture -- part of broader fears for human rights in China.
There has also been international concern about a clampdown in Hong Kong, which China is remoulding in its own authoritarian image after huge and often violent democracy protests in the city two years ago.
CoronavirusThe coronavirus has loomed large over the build-up to the Beijing Olympics, which take place just six months after the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Summer Games.
China has managed to restrict domestic infections to small clusters through aggressive lockdowns and mass testing, but Beijing organisers have admitted that protecting the Games from the coronavirus is their "biggest challenge".
The Winter Olympics will be held in a "closed loop" -- a strict bubble insulating athletes from the outside world for the whole Games. Only people living in China will be allowed to attend as spectators.
The estimated 2,900 athletes must be fully vaccinated or face 21 days in quarantine upon arrival. They, along with media and others in the bubble, will also be tested daily.
Entry into the Chinese capital has already been tightened.
ETX Studio
Thu Nov 25 2021
Peng Shuai of China hitting a return against Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain during their women's singles quarter-final match. - Photography STR/AFP, China Out
Kestabilan sosiopolitik Sabah bolehkan agihan ekonomi saksama - Tun Juhar
Keadaan sosiopolitik Sabah yang stabil akan membolehkan pengagihan ekonomi, pendapatan dan kekayaan negeri dilakukan secara adil dan saksama kepada semua rakyat, kata Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Ju
Kenanga jangka OPR stabil 3.0 peratus pada 2025
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd menjangka Kadar Dasar Semalaman (OPR) kekal stabil pada 3.0 peratus sepanjang 2025.
Johor sasar jumlah ternakan cecah 200,000 ekor pada 2027
Johor menyasarkan jumlah ternakan di negeri ini mencapai hingga 200,000 ekor pada 2027 setelah berjaya mencapai jumlah pengeluaran ternakan sebanyak 152,000 ekor hingga bulan lepas.
Hargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat dan penglibatan - Lee Lam Thye
Lee Lam Thye menekankan keperluan mendesak untuk menghargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat, dan penglibatan yang lebih baik.
Malaysia perlu bersedia penuhi keperluan TBB yang semakin meningkat - Fadillah
Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu (TBB) di negara ini semakin meningkat seiring dengan keyakinan pelabur asing khususnya untuk mewujudkan pusat-pusat data.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Fahmi berkata ia termasuk isu Internet di kawasan terpencil, pedalaman dan pulau-pulau dalam memastikan akses Internet berkelajuan tinggi lebih meluas.
Pelajar tahfiz perlu teroka bidang teknologi
Kira-kira 200,000 pelajar tahfiz di negara ini, perlu dipastikan untuk mempunyai kemampuan dan peluang menjadi tenaga penggerak kepada umat Islam Malaysia dalam meneroka bidang yang dahulu dilihat sebagai asing., tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Perpaduan rakyat prasyarat ekonomi mampan
Tidak semua negara Islam mempunyai ruang dan kesempatan untuk terus aman dan damai, dan mempunyai peluang untuk menikmati ekonomi yang kukuh dan berkembang seperti Malaysia, tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Tidak perlu tergesa-gesa tukar ke lesen B - JPJ
Pemegang Lesen Memandu Malaysia (LMM) Kelas B2 dan B1 tidak perlu tergesa-gesa mendaftar Program Khas Peralihan LLM Kelas B2/B1 Kepada LMM Kelas B kerana tiada had masa ditetapkan untuk permohonan.
KPWKM teruskan lapan inisiatif bantu warga emas
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM) akan terus menggerakkan lapan inisiatif utama dalam memenuhi keperluan jagaan dan sistem sokongan terhadap warga emas.
Dream of maiden Olympic gold put on hold
When one looks back on this year, it is inevitable that the main topic of discussion will be the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ini 5 fakta menarik temasya Olimpik Tokyo 2020
Pun begitu, sepanjang sesi persiapan, warga dunia telah dapat melihat proses persediaan yang dilakukan oleh Jepun sebagai tarikan dan untuk menaikkan momentum sebelum acara perasmiannya.
Malaysia akan terajui industri halal dunia - Mohd Redzuan
Malaysia akan menerajui bidang halal yang bakal melihat pengiktirafan tanpa sempadan dalam isu berkenaan di semua negara Islam seluruh dunia.
Amerika jangan main-main, jari saya sentiasa dekat dengan butang nuklear - Kim Jong Un
Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un tegaskan Amerika Syarikat tidak akan berani lancarkan peluru berpandu ke Pyongyang.
Yuna, Lenny Kravitz persembah lagu promosi Sukan Olimpik 2016
Penyanyi tempatan yang kini menetap di Amerika Syarikat, Yuna merupakan antara salah seorang daripada lima penyanyi yang dipilih untuk mempersembahkan lagu promosi Sukan Olimpik 2016.