China sees Olympic wrangle as long

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 20

China sees Olympic wrangle as long

By DAVID ROUND. NZPA staff correspondent Peking China is ready to talk to the President of the International Olympic Committee (Lord Killanin) about its place in the Olympics. But it does not see much prospect of a quick solution to the issue, according to a senior sports official in Peking "Judging from the situation at Montreal, we think the issue of China's rightful place in the Olympics cannot be solved m a very short space of time,” Mr Chu Tse. a Leading Member of the All China Sport Federation's ntemational liaison department, said. "The greatest obstacle in the way is the question of expelling the Chiang Kai-shek clique (Taiwan) from international sports bodies,” he said. “Tn the International Olympic Committee and some international sports federations certain leaders stick to the old stand of one China-one Taiwan. Therefore we are not able to restore our membership.

"Our persistent stand is to oppose one China-one Taiwan, two Chinas, or one China-two governments,” Mr Chu said.

Mr Chu said Lord Killanin was interested in visiting China. “We are ready to receive him,” he said.

The 1.0. C. president said early last year that he hoped to visit Peking before the Montreal Games to discuss the conflicts that had kept China out of the Olympics since 1952, but he has not yet done so.

China joined the 1.0. C. in 1954, but gave up its membership in 1958, two years after Taiwan was admitted.

In 1975 it applied to rejoin with the proviso that Taiwan should be expelled. The All China Sports Federation says it is the sole legitimate national sports organisation entitled to represent China. China does not belong to the three biggest international sports federations, representing athletics, swimming, and football. All three have said China is welcome to join but not at the expense of Taiwan's membership.

F.1.F.A., the world football body, admitted China at its meeting in Montreal, but did not expel Taiwan.

"Therefore, we did not accept their decision,” Mr Chu said.

Although it. was not a member of F.1.F.A., China

had exchanged visits of soccer teams with 32 countries, including New Zealand, in the last two years, he said.

Altogether, China had had sports exchanges with 140 countries and territories.

Mr Chu said some international sports federations’ members thought sport should have nothing to do with politics, and saw China’s stand as bringing politics into sport. “We think this kind of reasoning is untenable,” he said. “As a matter of fact, at the Olympics in i Montreal, President Ford ! applied great pressure to , bring the Chiang clique : (Taiwan) into the Games.” He said. “China has always been a member of , the 1.0. C. and more than ten international sports federations. Only because they admitted the Chiang ! clique were we compelled ' to withdraw.” China is now in 13 I international sports feder ations and 14 Asian federations.

Mr Chu said he hoped New Zealand sports associations would co-operate I with China internationally. ' “But in some inter- I national federations the '| attitude of the New Zealand delegates is not very encouraging,” he said.