‘Little Olympics’ spotlights China row
TAIPEI: Taiwan is about to host its largest ever sporting event, attracting thousands of athletes from around the world, but the World University Games, dubbed the “Little Olympics”, has highlighted tensions with China and Taiwan’s struggle for international recognition.
The biennial Summer Universiade will draw more than 7,000 student athletes to Taipei for two weeks from Saturday, to compete in sports from basketball to swimming to Chinese martial arts.
It is the first time Taiwan has held the Games, yet even on home turf it must compete as “Chinese Taipei” and will be unable to fly its national flag or play its national anthem because of Beijing’s sensitivities.
In the current climate, some expected Chinese athletes to boycott the Universiade entirely.
Instead, they will compete in individual events but sit out the team sports, citing a clash with their own national games.
The Universiade follows Olympic rules which say Taiwan must compete as “Chinese Taipei” and cannot use its national anthem, and which bar athletes from displaying the national flag.
For medal ceremonies, a special “Chinese Taipei” flag is raised.
The Olympic rules reflect Taipei’s loss of its seat at the United Nations, which switched recognition to Beijing as China’s representative in 1971.
Since then Beijing has been quick to counter any treatment of Taiwan as a sovereign country and regularly puts pressure on international bodies to exclude it.
The name “Chinese Taipei” is a compromise that has allowed the island to participate in the Olympic Games since 1984, and is used by Taiwan at other international events to avoid China’s objections.
“In our struggle to fight for international space, we have no choice but to accept the Chinese Taipei name,” said Su Li-chiung, secretary-general of the Taipei City government, who heads the Universiade preparations.
Su said it was an opportunity to spotlight Taiwan’s talents.
“I’m calling on everyone to unite and work together, to put on a good show,” she said. AFP