The uproar associated with popular team executives in the US professional basketball (NBA) supporting the Hong Kong demonstration continues with related events being canceled in China. The NBA top entered the field on the 8th, but there is no prospect of convergence.
NBA attaches great importance to the Chinese market and is planning a pre-season match in Shanghai on the 10th and in Shenzhen on the 12th. However, an executive of the popular team "Houston Rockets" tweeted to support the demonstration on the 4th, "Let's fight for freedom", and the Chinese Basketball Association rebelled on the 6th.
Under such circumstances, Adam Silver NBA Commissioner entered Shanghai at midnight on the 8th. The visit was originally scheduled, but it is expected to move to repair the relationship following the uproar.
Mr. Silver met on the 8th in Japan where he stayed before visiting China and tried to calm down, saying, “It is a pity that the Chinese people are offended,” but refused an apology saying that “freedom of expression is not regulated” Was.
As a result, the backlash from the Chinese side continued, affecting the removal of game advertisements raised in Shanghai and the cancellation of the fan event scheduled for the 9th.
The aftermath is spreading to the economic world. Nissan's joint-venture brand “Dongfeng Nissan” in China announced on the SNS official site that Silver ’s remarks will cease to be an official partnership with the NBA. According to China's Internet media, the newspaper, 12 companies working with the NBA decided to suspend or suspend their partners.
China's news agency, Chugoku Shimbun, is an official SNS that estimates Rockets' loss amount to 400 million yuan (approximately 6 billion yen) per year. China Central Television said yesterday, “The NBA's Chinese business that has been cultivated for 30 years was destroyed in 3rd. Commentary article was posted on the website. (Beijing)