Three US Representatives have penned a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, urging the committee to cease using the name “Chinese Taipei” for Taiwan’s participation in the Olympic Games.
In the letter, Representatives Tom Tiffany, Andy Ogles, and Chris Smith expressed concern over the discriminatory treatment faced by Taiwanese athletes, who are compelled to compete under the name “Chinese Taipei” while being prohibited from displaying Taiwan’s national flag and anthem. They argued that this policy violates the core principles of the Olympic Charter, particularly those of non-discrimination and political neutrality.
Highlighting Taiwan’s sovereign status, the representatives emphasized that Taiwan has never been under the control of the People’s Republic of China and should be allowed to participate under its own name. They pointed out the disparity in treatment, citing examples of territories like Puerto Rico and Bermuda, which are permitted to use their flags and names.
The representatives criticized the “uniquely irrational Taiwan-specific restrictions” and reported incidents where Taiwanese fans were banned from displaying national flags at Olympic venues, labeling such actions as nonsensical.
Calling on the IOC to resist China’s pressure, the representatives urged the committee to remove discriminatory restraints on Taiwan’s athletes and supporters before the upcoming Paris Summer Games, scheduled to take place from July 26 to Aug. 11.
In response, Taiwan’s Olympic committee reiterated that its title, flag, and emblem were approved and recognized by the IOC in 1981, following an agreement reached in Lausanne, Switzerland. They underscored Taiwan’s exclusion from international sports organizations due to Beijing’s oppression after its withdrawal from the UN in 1971.
