Taipei Times
Date: Nov 07, 2018
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
The Executive Yuan yesterday urged domestic and foreign bodies to respect the will of
Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee chairman Lin Hong-dow holds a news conference in Taipei yesterday to express concern about the potential negative consequences of a referendum calling on the country to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under the name “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei.” Photo: CNA
Taiwanese regardless of the results of a referendum calling for a change to the national sports team’s name from “Chinese Taipei” to “Taiwan” for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Cabinet spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka made the remarks at a media briefing in Taipei, following Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) president Lin Hong-dow’s (林鴻道) comment on Monday that the referendum could cause the national sports team’s membership to be suspended or revoked by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its executive board meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 30.
“Taiwan is a democratic country where it is the right of the people to vote in referendums, which are an expression of public opinion,” Kolas said.
The government’s role is to accept and hold referendums on proposals that have passed legal thresholds, she said, adding that the Executive Yuan’s position has always been that regardless of the referendum results, they should be respected by all parties, at home or overseas. [FULL STORY]