I.O.C. backs down on Taiwan: N.Z.’s case next on list

Press, 13 July 1976, Page 1

I.O.C. backs down on Taiwan: N.Z.’s case next on list

PA-Reuter Montreal After two days of debate, the International Olympic Committee executive has backed down in its row with the Canadian Government on the name Taiwan athletes may compete under in Montreal. This leaves the New Zealand-Africa confrontation as the main threat to the Olympic Games.

The 1.0.C.’s executive board yesterday withdrew opposition to Canada’s firm refusal of entry to a Taiwan team under the Nationalist flag of the Republic of China.

The board will recommend to a full meeting of the 1.0. C. today that it accept Canada’s position. A rejection of the recommendation would be unprecedented. It is likely that Taiwan will withdraw from the Games rather than accept that it may compete only as Taiwan.

Taiwan Olympic Committee officials said in Taipeh yesterday that Taiwan would withdraw if it was not allowed the full status accorded other nations.

Mr Niu Ping-yi, the secretary-general of the committee, said he would not make further comments on the name dispute until the final decision of the 1.0.C.’s session today. Mr Niu said that the T O C. had fully recognised the name, “the Republic of China Olympic Committee.” and that "there is no such member name as Taiwan Olvmpic Committee in the 1.0. C.”

Another spoeksman of the Taiwan committee said: “We see no reason why we should compete in the Montreal Games if the 1.0. C. charter is violated and Canada breaks its written guarantee to allow all 1.0. C. members to take part.

“We will not give up our principle and will pull out of the Games if necessary when we are forced not to use our legitimate name and not to display our national colour.” In Montreal, Mr Lawrence Ting, leader of the Taiwan delegation said: “The president of the 1.0. C. has lost the battle.”

But Mr Ting said that he believed many members of the 1.0. C. would honour .their oaths and vote against the executive’s recommendation.

“They owe it to the Olympic movement and to their younger generation,” he said. But unless the full session overruled ’he executive, “we really see that there is no possibility that we will take part in these Games.”

Mr Ting is vice-president of the Taiwan Olympic Committee, which has contended since 1956 with the Peking-based All China Sports Federation for re-

cognition as the Olympic body of China. He said it was totally unacceptable that his team should be required to take part in the Games under the Olympic flag, rather than its own Nationalist banner, and under a name plaque which would describe it as a guest of the 1.0. C. Even this formula, he said, had not been accepted by the Canadian Government, which recognised the Peking Government as ruler of all of China, including Taiwan. Lord Killanin described Canada’s stand as an extremely dangerous precedent. “Never before in the history of the Olympics, has anyone been kept from entering a country to compete in the Games,” he said. “The Canadian Government made very clear that its attitude was a political one from which they could not withdraw. That’s their business, but it is unfortunate that they allowed us to be here in this position.” It was a defeat for the 1.0. C., administered by the Canadian Government, which, he said, went back on promises to permit all 1.0. C. members to enter. If he had known six months ago that the Gov-

emment would renege on its guarantees, he would have proposed that the Games be taken away from Montreal. Expressing regrets to the Taiwan team, which is waiting in the United States, Lord Killanin said, “Our reason for not cancelling the Games is to prevent athletes around the world from suffering.” Asked whether he had considered resigning, he snapped: “I will go on fighting. I don’t mind getting black eyes. I will go on fighting and so will the 10. C.” Looking to the future—and he made clear he was not thinking only of the Games at Moscow in 1980 —Lord Killanin said that anyone organising the Olympic Games, and anyone spending money to prepare teams for them, ran the risk of a lastminute cancellation if this happened again. In a sudden emotional outburst which won applause from a crowded media conference, he added: “The world is fed up with politicians getting involved in sport.” The Montreal Games are scheduled to open on Saturday. More than 10,000 athletes from about 119

countries will take part.