Thursday, August 14, 2008

Taiwan and the Olympics

Since I am researching Taiwan as part of my service plan, I thought it was fitting to include a little segment on why the flag is different and the name is not Taiwan but rather Chinese-Taipei.


and this from the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC).

The COC representatives reaffirmed the basic principle at the meeting: There is only one China in the world, and that is the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. Based on this principle, the IOC should recognize only one NOC for China, and that is the Chinese Olympic Committee with its headquarters in Beijing and representing the amateur athletes of the whole country.

However, in consideration of the actual situation in Taiwan and in order that the athletes there would have the opportunity to take part in international competitions, the COC agreed that the sports organization in Taiwan might stay in the IOC, on condition that it would not attach “Republic of China” to its name, nor use the appellation of “Taiwan” independently. Nor would it be allowed to use its “national flag” and “national anthem” and anything symbolic of the “Republic of China.”

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