BOCOG surprised by objections to Olympic torch route in Taiwan

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-28-2007 09:19

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympics

Chinese Taipei says it will not take part in the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. The announcement came just before the route was made public. The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee is calling on Taiwan to support the original plan.

A senior BOCOG official presented documents detailing negotiations with the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee on the torch relay route.

Jiang Xiaoyu, BOCOG executive vice president, said, "BOCOG believes the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee has broken four agreements reached by the two sides on the torch relay route, not to mention the principle of separating sports from politics as enshrined in the Olympic charter."

Frustration is high, as Jiang says the IOC has approved Beijing's torch relay plan.

 

Jiang Xiaoyu said, "We still hope the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee will reconsider the matter in the interest of Taiwan compatriots and take into account the Olympic Movement. We hope it will go back to its earlier agreements and fulfill the Taiwan compatriots' dream of passing the Beijing Olympic flame."

Some Taiwan politicians visiting the Olympic stadium construction site are displeased with the Taiwan authorities' decision.

Kuai Chong, KMT vice chairman, said, "The Beijing Olympics is an honor for all the Chinese. It should not be politicized. All Chinese are entitled to participate. The Olympics is not only beneficial to cross-straits relations but also to the feeling of the Chinese nation."

Chin Chin-sheng, sec'y general, people first party, said, "Sport is sport, and politics should never intervene. I express my deep regret for Taipei's refusal to participate in the Olympic torch relay."

The torch relay for the 29th Olympiad in Beijing will include a hundred and thirty-five cities and regions.

The route will cover a distance of a hundred and thirty seven thousand kilometers.

The torch will fly from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Taipei on Monday, and will be relayed to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Opposition parties criticize Olympic torch rejection by Taiwan authorities

BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Senior political figures of the opposition parties of Taiwan on Friday criticized the island's authorities for mixing politics with sports by the attempt of turning away the Olympic torch.

As the host of 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing on Thursday unveiled the 137,000-km torch relay route, which includes a stop at Taipei before the torch enters Hong Kong, Macao, and a scores of Chinese mainland cities. Full story>>

BOCOG comments on unveiling of Olympic torch passing Taipei

BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG) on Friday called a news conference where BOCOG executive vice president and spokesperson Jiang Xiaoyu gave a statement on the unveiling of the Olympic torch passing Taipei. Full story>>

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan