Continuous Debate on Taiwan's Name in International Events|東亞青運事件 突顯台灣體育困境

The East Asian Olympic Committee stripped Taichung to host the 2019 East Asian Youth Games, due to alleged pressure from China. The latest development once again brings to attention the much debated issue of the official name for Taiwan in international games. The debate has been ongoing for decades and its outcome could affect the career for Taiwanese athletes.


The Olympic Flag with the five-interlacing-ring rises in the athletes' village. According to the agreement between Taiwan and The International Olympic Committee, athletes from Taiwan participate in international games under the team name of Chinese Taipei. The recent move by Taiwanese civil groups lobbying for Taiwan to take part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under the name "Taiwan" instead of "Chinese Taipei" was considered by China as a breach of agreement. And the East Asian Olympic Committee subsequently stripped Taichung, a city in central Taiwan, of the right to host the 2019 East Asian Youth Games.

The stripping of hosting right this time means they don't want us to take part. We do accept the team name (of "Chinese Taipei"), and on the other hand, they don't accept our team name (of "Taiwan"). There have been two instances where we had trouble taking part in the Asian Olympics due to naming issues. After we signed the agreement with the International Olympic Committee, all the naming issues have been resolved.

The Chinese Olympic Committee was established in 1922. After the then Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan following the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the All-China Sports Federation was established in Mainland China. The two organizations across the Taiwan Strait have since been battling for international recognition, including at the Olympic Games. At one point, the Chinese Olympic Committee, based in Taiwan, was delisted by the International Olympic Committee. In the ensuring years, Taiwan participated in three Olympic Games under the name Taiwan thanks to the lobbying effort of the then Chiang Kai-shek administration. However, after Taiwan was no longer recognized by the United Nations in 1971, it could no longer participate in the Olympics until an agreement was signed between the government of Taiwan and the International Olympic Committee, Taiwanese athletes began to take part in the Olympics under the team name "Chinese Taipei", starting in 1981. The agreement clearly states Taiwan could participate in international games under the team name, team flag, and team symbol of Chinese Taipei.

Taiwan is recognized by the International Olympic Committee under the agreement. If we no longer honor the agreement, there will be concerns among other international sports bodies since they are all part of the International Sport Committee.

Experts pointed out that if Taiwan wants to change its name in international games, it needs to reapply to join the International Olympic Committee. However, the prerequisite for an application is that nation must be a UN member, which Taiwan is currently not. Therefore, even if the motion of changing team names is passed, the room for Taiwanese athletes to take part in international events still remains in question. Experts said that the International Olympic Committee only recognizes the name Chinese Taipei, and if Taiwan does not honor the agreement, it might be barred from participating, which will in turn affect the athletes' careers. Experts believe finding the right balance between sports and politics is a question that deserves much deliberation.