Opinion | It’s time to stop forcing Taiwanese athletes to play politics with China and vice versa
- CrossFit athlete Hung Tsai-jui the latest to be affected in ongoing geopolitical issue
- Even the IOC has gotten involved, warning Taiwan not to change its name from ‘Chinese Taipei’
Taiwan sits in an ambiguous, vague state of subdued geopolitical tension with the mainland. Matters have reached a stalemate, as full on independence seems highly unlikely, and China does not appear to want to wage an unprovoked war due to the negative impact that would have on the its international relations.
Thus, the status quo, remains in place in an odd, undefinable holding pattern.
Where things get complicated pertaining to sports is according to the International Olympic Committee, Taiwanese athletes must compete under the overtly and purposely ambiguous “Chinese Taipei” banner. The name has its birth in the 1979 Nagoya Resolution, and encompasses a wide variety of international events including the Olympic Games, International Tennis Federation matches, Fifa and even the Little League World Series.
The latest in a long line of controversies surrounding this is CrossFit country winner Hung Tsai-jui.
This year, CrossFit Inc. did away with regional qualifiers as a way to reach the CrossFit Games. It also decided it would crown “country representatives” when it comes to the CrossFit Open: a five-week workout challenge where entrants record themselves completing various challenges.
