![]() ![]() ![]() While this statement by the Taiwanese delegation demonstrated Olympic athletes’ ability to wield global political influence, Brundage was unaware of how events at the Games eight years later would both politically and socially eclipse those that he dealt with in Rome. Taiwanese athletes march in the Opening Ceremonies of Rome 1960. On September 18, 1960, the 73 athletes of the Taiwanese delegation marched into the Opening Ceremony with the lead athlete carrying a sign saying “Under Protest.” Sitting IOC President Avery Brundage needed to be persuaded against banning the Taiwanese athletes and delegation from competing at the games, so the 73 protesting athletes continued to compete under the name of “Formosa,” which they felt did not represent them for the subsequent weeks in Rome. In an attempt to compromise, the IOC set Taiwanese athletes to compete under “Formosa,” the name commonly used in Europe for the island of Taiwan until the early 20th century. ![]() Meanwhile, the Taiwanese delegation wanted to compete under the name “The Republic of China” to assert legitimacy. With continued disputes over the legitimacy of Mao Zedong’s regime in mainland China versus the Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan, China withdrew from the Olympics two years in advance because Mao wanted Taiwan banned. One of the first instances of political statements being made by athletes at the Olympic Games came in Rome in 1960. Taiwanese Athletes “UNDER PROTEST” in Rome With such ambiguity among the legislation conflicting with Bach’s sentiments of “neutrality,” historical precedent may hold influential power on potential rulings if athletes participate in any political demonstrations this summer. The Olympic Charter calls for “disqualification of the person or delegation concerned, or withdrawal of the accreditation of the person or delegation concerned” upon violation of Rule 50, albeit transgressions are taken on a case-by-case basis according to the guidelines specifically set for Tokyo 2020. The rule states that any form of “advertising/publicity or any kind of demonstrations or political, religious and racial propaganda” is strictly prohibited in the Olympic Village and any other Olympic events or sites. By citing the “values” of the Olympic Games and demanding neutrality “in every respect,” Bach is now emphasizing an agenda that he and the IOC may be unable to carry out.Īccording to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter–one of the rules by which the IOC governs the Olympic Games and all related events–Bach and the IOC have the right to enforce such a policy. On January 10, 2020, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach proclaimed that the Olympic Games “are not, and must never be, a platform to advance political or any other potentially divisive ends.” With the Tokyo 2020 Games later this year, Bach drew a line in the sand concerning political statements by Olympic athletes with his opening speech at the 135th IOC Session, hosted in Lausanne, Switzerland. ![]()
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