More than 50 pro-Taiwan football fans armed with ROC flags turned up for the bronze-medal match between China and South Korea yesterday, despite admonitions to leave their country's colors at home.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) earlier asked soccer fans not to bring the nation's flag to games of the AFC Women's Championship.
But that didn't stop some fans. At yesterday's game to decide the bronze medal, fans waved the nation's flag and held up posters at the match in which China trounced South Korea 8-0.
"Welcome China to our country -- Taiwan," one poster read.
Fans yesterday said they brought the flags to demonstrate the unfair treatment Taiwan receives at international sporting events.
"Mayor Ma said at the grand opening of the series that he hoped the public would not to bring Taiwan's national flags to the stadium," said Wang Chung-lung (王中瀧), who helped organize fans yesterday through his Web site, Against the Media.
"But Chinese Taipei's flags are OK. All of us think it's ridiculous. This is Taiwan and we are holding our own national flags.
"If the Chinese can wave their flags, we can, too!"
Wang yesterday bristled at the notion that an ROC citizen would be inviting trouble by waving the nation's flag.
"What is wrong with that?" Wang said. "And we don't have any law saying that a Taiwanese citizen cannot hold or display Taiwan's national flags in public, do we?"
Wang's Web site is made up of Internet surfers frustrated by the pro-unification slant of Taiwan's media.
Its members post opinions that often dissect news stories that appear in TV, radio or print media.
Lin Chong-pin (林中斌), vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said in October that international sports activities held in Taiwan would follow the "Olympic mode."
That means Taiwan's team must be referred to as "Chinese Taipei" and Taiwan's Olympic flag instead of the national flag must be raised.
"But the `Olympic mode' is only valid inside the stadium," Lin said.
"Visitors waving national flags at the scene or putting up flags outside the stadium is fine, as long as they are not affecting the games."
A group of 20 members from the Taiwan Association of University Professors was also present in the stands yesterday, waving the nation's flag and holding posters.
"It is just a self recognition of Taiwanese people," said Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), secretary-general of the association.
"If you respect yourself first, other people will respect you afterward," Tsay said.
"For Taiwanese people, we should recognize ourselves and be brave enough to introduce ourselves as Taiwanese."
There were no incidents reported at yesterday's match. Police officers and AFC workers helped maintain order throughout the game.
Chen Yi-tung (陳奕通) secured a historic Olympic berth on Sunday by winning the senior men’s foil event at the 2024 Asia Oceania Zonal Olympic Fencing Qualifiers in United Arab Emirates. Chen defeated Samuel Elijah of Singapore 15-4 in the final in Dubai to secure the only wild card in the event, making him the first male Olympian fencer from Taiwan in 36 years and only the sixth Taiwanese fencer to ever qualify for the quadrennial event. The last appearance by a Taiwanese male fencer at the Olympics was in 1988, when Wang San-tsai (王三財) and Cheng Ming-hsiang (鄭明祥) competed in Seoul. The
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang