BEIJING – Chinese censor organs have ordered its media to stop reporting news related to problems and failures of Chinese athletes during their participation in the ongoing Rio Olympic Games, and focus more on their patriotism.

“Do not report on the miseries of Olympic athletes; report more on (their) patriotic spirit,” said a directive sent to the country’s media and published online by the “Ministry of Truth” dedicated to leaking these almost secret orders of Chinese censorship.

The order was leaked recently as China delivers its worst Olympic performance and coupled with the emergence of local athletes with strong personalities such as the swimmer Fu Yuanhui, which has changed the direction of the Chinese press, focusing more on the human side of athletes than their glory.

Fu, winner of a bronze medal, has become more famous than other Chinese gold medalists for demonstrating surprise over her victory in front of the cameras, or revealing that she couldn’t perform well in some of the races as she was on her period.

Other Chinese athletes have also changed from the usual cold and patriotic attitude of their predecessors such as table tennis player Li Xiaoxia, who after winning gold in the couples final confessed about the break up with her boyfriend, China Digital Times reported.

While many victories went by, incidents such as the engagement of a Chinese diving jumper with his also diver girlfriend when she received a medal have been widely covered by the Chinese media, even becoming something viral, much to the displeasure of Chinese censorship which rejects this change of focus.