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'Chinese Taipei' label for Taipei 101
Run draws fire
By Lung Po-an
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Apr 22, 2010, Page 1
Runners planning to join the annual Taipei 101 Run yesterday accused the
organizer of undermining Taiwan's status after finding that the nationality box
on the registration form listed ¡§Chinese Taipei¡¨ as an option instead of
¡§Taiwan.¡¨
Runners who wanted to sign up for the race said they were dissatisfied with the
wording because the 101 run is a domestic competition, not an international one
like the Olympic Games. They criticized the association for being confused about
the nation's status by avoiding the use of the name ¡§Taiwan.¡¨
¡§Using ¡¥Chinese Taipei¡¦ to climb our most famous tower in our own land is
ridiculous,¡¨ one runner surnamed Weng (¯Î) said.
Even if foreigners participate in the 101 run, using the same standards as the
Olympic Games is over-the-top, he said.
Association secretary-general Chen Hua-heng (³¯µØ«í) said that the association has
received similar complaints from runners and lawmakers over the years, but the
association did not make any changes because the association is a member of the
International Association of Ultra Runners, and Taiwan¡¦s participation in
international sporting events has always been under the name ¡§Chinese Taipei.¡¨
Chen insisted that the association has not undermined the country's status.
Chen said the association has been in existence for almost 20 years and has
always participated in sports events according to Olympics standards, adding
that changing the names now would result in confusion.
As to whether Taiwanese runners can register under the name ¡§Taiwan,¡¨ Chen said
the decision must be made by the board of directors.
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