Medal winners take a group photo after the badminton men's doubles at the Paris Olympics on August 4, 2024. Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei won over Chinese duo Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang to take the badminton men's doubles title. Photo:VCG

Organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympics have won wide applause among the Chinese public for forbidding flags and banners that advocate "Taiwan independence." Online commenters said Paris Olympics' staunch stance toward the one-China principle sets a model for future organizers of sports events, especially the organizer of Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

Since the start of the Olympics, the Chinese public has been enjoying various events. Recently, the strict adherence to the one-China principle and Olympic rules by staff from the Paris 2024 Olympics has garnered widespread praise on Chinese social media.

A family of four from the island of Taiwan claimed they had painted unofficial "Taiwan flag" on their faces but were made to wash it off before they could enter the arena, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Banners showing unrecognized "Taiwan flag" were also confiscated during a badminton men's doubles match between Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei and Chinese duo Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang on Sunday, CNN reported.

Mina Syue, a 28-year-old engineer from island of Taiwan who told Reuters her banner had been confiscated after the guards checked the message with translation software.

According to Olympic rules, the island of Taiwan must compete as "Chinese Taipei" during the Olympic games and use the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee flag as its official flag.

IOC rules prohibit flags or signs that include political messages or support countries that are not participating at the Olympics.

Moreover, when Zhang Boheng from Chinese mainland and Tang Chia-Hung from Chinese Taipei tied for bronze in artistic gymnastics men's horizontal bar's match, the organizer put Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee flag under Chinese national flag at the awards ceremony.

Netizens from Chinese mainland applauded French organizers' practices.

"The Olympics should not be a platform for political agendas. People attempting to turn the Paris Olympics into a stage for promoting 'Taiwan independence' will only face humiliation," one Sina Weibo user wrote.

"Kudos to Paris 2024 organizing committee! They are very professional. It is the Taiwan secessionist forces who are causing trouble," another user noted.

Paris 2024 organizing committee has closely adhered to Olympics rules, setting an example of following the one-China principle for organizers of sporting events all over the world, said a Sina Weibo user, noting that especially for organizers of Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Global Times