Olympians express opposition to Taiwan’s name change referendum

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/11/21
By: Joseph Yeh 

Taipei, Nov. 21 (CNA) A group of Taiwanese Olympians on Wednesday voiced their opposition to a national referendum on whether Taiwan should apply to participate in all international sporting events under the name “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei,” the name currently used.

The Olympians expressed concern that if the Nov. 24 referendum passes, Taiwan would risk losing its Olympic membership, preventing Taiwanese athletes from competing in Olympic-related events.

“We oppose the referendum not because we don’t love our country, but because we need to follow the rules and the agreement,” said female archer Lei Chien-ying (雷千瑩), who won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“Hard-working Taiwanese athletes need a stage on which to showcase their strengths so that people around the world can know that we are actually from Taiwan,” she said.    [FULL  STORY]