Views still differ on withdrawal by Taiwan

Press, 15 July 1976, Page 1

Views still differ on withdrawal by Taiwan

NZPA-Reuter Taipei Taiwan will withdraw from the Montreal Olympics unless it is allowed to use its own flag, the Secretary-General of the country’s Olympic committee said yesterday.

Since the Canadian Government has firmly refused to let Taiwan use its Republic of China flag, his statement appeared to rule out Taiwan’s participation in the Games.

“Under such circumstances, we’ll have no choice but to register our protest by withdrawing from the Olympic Games at Montreal,” Mr Niu said. Canada, which recognises Communist China, has refused to permit Taiwanese athletes into the country under the name and flag of the Republic of China.

The International Olympic Committee (1.0. C. has asked Taiwan to reconsider its intention to pull out of the Games in the face of the Canadian Government’s decision.

Mr Niu Ping-yi said that the idea of Taiwan taking part under the imposed conditions was preposterous.

“No country has participated in the Olympic Games without its national flag prominently displayed.”

But m Montreal is was reported that Taiwan team officials were expected to accept a stunning loss of face and agree to march in the Olympic Games opening on Saturday without their Nationalist Chinese flag or even a name. The International Olympic Games Committee (1.0. C. has persuaded the Taiwan delegation to reconsider its intention to pull out of the Games in the face of the aCnadian Government refusal to permit athletes into the country under the name and flag of the Republic of China.

The 1.0. C. president, Lord Killanin, told a press conference after the first day of the organisation’s Montreal Games session that the Taiwanese would give their reply soon.

Sources close to the 1.0. C. said it appeared certain that Taiwan team leaders would accept the 1.0. C. appeal to put the interests of their young athletes before their national and political pride. While appeasing the Canadian Government, the sources said, such a decision would soothe 1.0. C. members’ anger at being forced to give way on the Taiwan issue.

1.0. C. members are angry over what Lord Killanin called Political interference by Canada with the principle that all 1.0. C. members should be free to compete in the Games. While the interests of the Taiwan athletes, now waiting in the United States, were the main concern of the 1.0. C., the sources noted the Nationalist Chinese could .gain politically in their attempt to remain in the Olympic movement. The Athletes’ presence would mean there would be no vacuum into which the People’s Republic of China could move. Lord Killanin said that the 67 1.0. C. members attending the session were unanimous in condemning the Canadian action. “Although we have had a considerable rebuff, we are doing everything possible to see that the athletes take part in the Games,” he said. “The door that was slammed on the Taiwanese has been left open and we can hope that the Taiwan athletes can take part in the Montreal games,” he said.

They would appear under the Olympic flag and the Olympic anthem would be played instead of the Re-

public of China’s National Anthem if Taiwan won any medals.

The Taiwanese would have no national team name, and Lord Killanin said he did not know what uniforms they would wear.

“This is agreed in principle and largely in detail with the Canadian Government,” he said. There had been no split in the 1.0. C., and he indicated there had been no vote on the question in ivew of ■ the unity against the Canadian Government. The Prime Minister, Mr Trudeau, after flying to Halifax, Novia Scotia, to welcome the Queen, who will open the Games, said: “I very much hope they (the Taiwanese) will come and if they do. I am sure they will be very heartily applauded by all Canadians.”

Asked if Canada’s action was an unwarranted political interference, he replied that he did not think it was unwarranted and he would not cal] it interference. The 1.0. C. still has a heavy agenda to consider here, with operational questions concerning the Montreal Games topping the list. There will be a meeting with team leaders from the 117 countries expected to compete.