Focusing wholeheartedly on their core responsibilities, the sports community firmly says no to the chaos of "fan circles."

Addressing the issue of "fan circles" disrupting and undermining the table tennis program, the Chinese Table Tennis Association and the Chinese national team deeply recognize the importance of focusing wholeheartedly on their core responsibilities and actively promoting positive energy in sports. They have firmly committed to rigorously implementing the ideological work accountability system and have unanimously decided to disband the official fan groups—extending this measure to all personnel and encompassing every major social media platform.

Currently, individuals who have officially established fan groups have taken proactive steps to gradually disband their communities, firmly rejecting the chaos within "fan circles" and actively countering the unhealthy "fan culture" with decisive measures.

It’s not just the Chinese table tennis team—athletes and coaches from the Chinese badminton squad have also been gradually disbanding their fan groups. Earlier, Olympic swimming champion Pan Zhanle and Olympic tennis star Zheng Qinwen had already dissolved their fan communities. Meanwhile, Olympic swimmer Wang Shun and others have publicly spoken out, firmly rejecting unauthorized fans, “CP” culture, and all other forms of fan-driven support.

December 4, 2024, Wang Shun's Weibo post

The development of sports relies on the care and support from all sectors of society—and the best way to repay this generosity and earn even broader support is by focusing even more intensely on the training ground and the competition arena, using outstanding performances on the field to spread positive energy in sports.

For some time now, the General Administration of Sport has steadfastly safeguarded ideological security in the sports sector, focusing on key areas and treating the chaotic practices within "fan circles" as an urgent priority—tackling them rigorously and effectively. The administration is also strengthening team management, enhancing public awareness campaigns, bolstering risk prevention measures, and zeroing in on specific target groups.

"Fan wars" within "fan circles"—characterized by mutual attacks, insults, one-upmanship, inciting conflict, defamation, spreading rumors, and even malicious marketing—seriously deviate from the true spirit of sports and have unfortunately caused significant negative societal impacts. The internet is not a lawless zone; we must show respect to coaches, athletes, and referees. We shouldn’t use the guise of “support” or “passion” as an excuse to act recklessly, nor should we allow capital to "stoke the flames," disrupting the healthy ecosystem of sports.

Recently, all parties have joined forces in collaborative governance and cooperation, pooling their strengths to deliver more impactful initiatives and mobilize greater collective energy. This effort aims to restore the true essence of "passion," safeguarding public interests while jointly fostering a clean and positive online environment. Together, we’re committed to preserving the purity and beauty of sports, promoting an uplifting societal ethos that encourages everyone to embrace resilience, unity, and ambition. The thrilling world of competitive sports not only embodies the spirit of relentless determination, relentless pursuit of excellence, and collaborative teamwork but also spreads powerful, positive energy to sports enthusiasts worldwide—inspiring individuals to strive for greatness and contributing to the broader mission of building a stronger nation and realizing the rejuvenation of our nation. (Adapted from Page 01 of the February 5 edition of China Sports Daily)

In August 2024, the only fan group dedicated to Olympic champion Pan Zhanle—known as "Pan Zhanle Stand Section"—was disbanded by Pan Zhanle himself.

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