At the Paris 2024 Olympics, many spectators are puzzled by the name “Chinese Taipei.”
They might wonder where this place is and who competes under this name.
60 athletes from Chinese Taipei participated, and all were Taiwanese citizens. However, these athletes do not compete under the Taiwanese flag.
The reason for this situation is rooted in a complex political history.
The story begins with the Chinese Revolution of 1949, which led to a major dispute between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. Both claimed to be the legitimate “one China.”
Tom Heenan from Monash University sheds light on this issue. According to Heenan, the Communist regime in China adopted a one-China policy, claiming that there was only one legitimate China.
Taiwan, located southeast of mainland China, has used various names in the Olympics due to this political conflict. Over the years, it has competed as Taiwan, China, the Republic of China, Formosa, and currently, Chinese Taipei.
The name “Chinese Taipei” was first introduced at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
This decision followed Taiwan’s boycott of the 1980 Olympics, which was influenced by an agreement between China and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The agreement established that Taiwan would compete as Chinese Taipei, while China would retain the name China. “It’s a complicated situation, and you need to look at each Olympics to understand the full story,” Heenan noted.
In 2018, Taiwanese citizens had the opportunity to vote on changing the name from “Chinese Taipei” back to “Taiwan,” which was used during the 1960s. However, the majority voted against this change.
Heenan explains that the decision to keep “Chinese Taipei” was driven by concerns that changing the name might result in Taiwan being excluded from the Olympics. The fear was that China’s influence could lead to such an exclusion.
As a result, Taiwanese athletes continue to compete under the name “Chinese Taipei.”
When they win medals, the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag is raised, and the official Olympic anthem is played, rather than Taiwan’s national anthem.
Heenan elaborates, “Chinese Taipei operates as an Olympic committee with its own flag, separate from Taiwan’s national flag. This arrangement allows them to participate in the Olympics despite the political complexities.”
In summary, the name “Chinese Taipei” represents a compromise in a long-standing political dispute. It allows Taiwanese athletes to compete on the world stage while navigating the delicate balance of international relations and Olympic participation.