Spectator removed from stands for using "Taiwan go for it" banner during Paris Olympics' badminton event
As Lakshya Sen was playing Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen, an incident involving a fan was taking place in the stands. A spectator holding up a green banner, which read "Taiwan go for it" was removed from the facility and led up the staircase while shouting. Two Reuters journalists were eyewitnesses to the event.
The color green is actually the color of Taiwan's ruling party Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) and is used by people who support the island's status as a separate entity from China and often Taiwan's independence.
While some Taiwanese fans have held the official Chinese Taipei Olympic flag when the athletes are performing, some have cheered by roaring "Taiwan".
Taiwan are participating in the Olympics as Chinese Taipei, to avoid objections from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own. The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticized the event.
In a statement released on Friday, the Ministry said:
“This violent act is not only ill-educated but also seriously violates the spirit of civilization represented by the Olympic Games and it is even more contrary to the rule of law and infringes on freedom of expression."
The statement further mentioned that fans with banners mentioning the word "Taiwan" were also been removed by the security personnel. Moreover, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to France, Francois Wu, has reported the incident to the local police.
Wu also posted a picture with the spectator on Facebook and the caption read as follows:
"Thank you to the students who have worked hard to cheer for our badminton heroes! Come on Taiwan!”
What happened in the Sen-Chou game?
India's Lakshya Sen defeated Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen in the quarter-finals of the men's singles badminton event at the Paris Olympics 2024. After succumbing to Chou's aggressive first game which the Chinese Taipei shuttler won, Sen registered a brilliant comeback to win the next two games.
The match ended 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 in Lakshya Sen's favor, with the Indian shuttler becoming the first male badminton player to make it to the semi-finals of the Olympics.