Taiwan warned it could be kicked out of Olympics if name change that angers Beijing goes ahead
- As Taiwan prepares to vote on plan to abandon Chinese Taipei for Tokyo 2020, Games committee warns ‘yes’ would have serious consequences
- Beijing says Taiwanese athletes will be the ones to suffer and warns of their withdrawal from international competitions
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told Taiwan that it could lose its right to compete if it tries to change its name for the 2020 Games in Tokyo, ahead of a referendum that will anger Beijing.
In a referendum that will take place alongside local elections, Taiwan will vote on Saturday on whether the island should compete as Taiwan and not Chinese Taipei.
Beijing, which claims sovereignty over self-ruling democratic Taiwan, is sensitive to the island’s use of names, emblems and flags at international events.
These sensitivities – and Beijing’s clout on the world stage – mean Taiwan must compete as Chinese Taipei at the Olympics and other international sports competitions.
The IOC wrote to the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) and the government on Friday, saying that any name change was “under its jurisdiction” and warned of consequences if it felt there was interference.
According to the Olympic Charter, the IOC has the right to suspend a national Olympic committee if its activities are “hampered” by regulations or acts of government.