Taiwan says won't host torch, decision final

Friday, September 21, 2007, 11:13 [IST]

Taipei, Sep 21: Taiwan said today the Olympic torch would not come to the island after it failed to reach a deal with China and that the decision was final.

Taiwan blamed the failure after months of negotiations on a number of issues, including Beijing's insistence that the island adhere to International Olympic Committee rules that ban the use of Taiwan's national flag and anthem at Olympic events.

China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has promised to bring the democratic island's 23 million people back under its rule, by force if necessary.

''In the final week of negotiations there was barely any progress at all,'' said Thomas Tsai, president of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee. ''I think it's very regretable to get this result after six months of negotiations.''.

Reuters >

Topics: taiwam, olympic torch, china, olympics, beijing, chinese taipei olympic committee

Other articles published on September 21, 2007

China's "King Kong" wants to carry Olympics Torch

Tuesday, July 31, 2007,17:44 [IST]

Beijing, July 31: One of the world's hairiest men, who nicknames himself ''King Kong'', has launched a campaign to carry the Olympic Torch during the relay ahead of next year's Beijing Games, Xinhua news agency said today. ''The Olympics belong to everyone, the common people and those with abnormalities included,'' the report quoted Yu Zhenhuan as saying from his home in China's northeastern province of Liaoning. ''First I am a celebrity, inside and outside of China. Secondly, I think my experience in coping.....

Taiwan says won't host torch, decision final

Friday, September 21, 2007,10:43 [IST]

Limitless Updates

Sports News

News Archives

'India's position on Tibet unchanged'

Friday, April 11, 2008,18:37 [IST]

New Delhi, Apr 11: India's position on Tibet has been consistent and is not likely to change in future, top diplomatic sources asserted here today. "We are India. We are unique in our approach towards Tibet. Our position is very clear...Tibet is an autonomous region of China. I don't see that change (in that)," the sources said. Referring to the security of the Olympic Torch in India, the sources said it (the Olympic Torch) was responsibility of the Government of India......