Why green flag is not allowed in Olympics
What's the story
A tense situation arose at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday as security removed a fan brandishing a green banner that read "Go Taiwan" from the badminton venue. According to Reuters, the spectator was physically removed up a staircase, shouting, while Taiwanese shuttler Chou Tien Chen was playing against India's Lakshya Sen. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the ejection, describing it as "crude and despicable means of malicious individuals ruthlessly snatching the 'Go Taiwan' slogan."
Official response
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds to incident
The ministry also labeled this act as uneducated and a serious violation of both the civilized spirit represented by the Olympic Games and freedom of speech. When asked about the incident, International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams referred to the Olympics' ticketing terms and conditions, stating that "only flags of countries and territories participating in the Games are allowed."
Symbolic significance
Banner's color sparks political controversy
As per the terms and conditions, spectators are also forbidden from carrying any banners that display political messages. Green, which is the color of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party is frequently used by advocates for Taiwanese independence and autonomy. But Beijing views Taiwan, officially known as the "Republic of China" (ROC), as part of its territory and strongly opposes any recognition of it as a separate nation, including in sports.
Historical context
Taiwan's Olympic history and name controversy
Until the 1970s, Taiwan competed at the Olympics under "ROC." This changed in 1971 when the United Nations recognized Beijing as China's only legitimate government. Taiwan boycotted the 1976 and 1980 Olympics after host nations denied its team permission to compete under the ROC name. The island returned to the games in 1984 as "Chinese Taipei," following a 1979 agreement between China and the IOC that allowed it to compete but not use its own name, flag or anthem.