Because she was wearing the wrong suit, her financial aid will be withdrawn
Huang Yu-ting deleted the video, which caused her trouble. It did not help
Source: AFP / SEBASTIEN BOZON
Taiwan’s PM gets his way. Because Huang Yu-ting wore the wrong suit in Olympic training, he demanded punishment. This now followed. The speed skater gets no more money.
In the controversy surrounding Taiwanese speed skater Huang Yu-ting, sports authorities have cut financial support for the 33-year-old for two years. The Taiwan flag-bearer at the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony sparked heated debate after wearing a Chinese national team suit during training and posting a video of it on social media.
Statements made by the 33-year-old during the Winter Games fueled the discussion. According to media reports on Friday in Taiwan, the punishment was preceded by a video hearing of the athlete with representatives of the Taiwan Olympic Committee, the Speed Skating Association and legal experts. According to media reports, Huang Yu-ting apologized.
Huang Yu-ting (left) with the flag at the opening ceremony in Beijing
Quelle: AFP / MANAN VATSYAYANA
Since the communist leadership in Beijing sees the democratic island only as part of the People’s Republic and is threatening to conquer it, dealing with national symbols and designations is a delicate matter between the two sides. Even Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang had called for punishment.
Taiwan sent four athletes to the games
The athlete had posted a video on social media of her training in a black and red suit with “China” written on it and a small red national flag on it. After strong reactions in Taiwan, Huang deleted the video and reportedly wrote: “Sport is sport and in the world of sports we do not differentiate between nationalities. After the games we are all good friends.” She got the suit from a friend in the Chinese team.
There was more controversy during the Games after China’s state-run Beijing Ribao newspaper quoted the athlete as saying after a competition that the strong support from Chinese spectators made her feel “at home”. Huang was one of the four athletes representing Taiwan at the Winter Games. Out of consideration for China, the democratic island may only take part in the Olympic Games as “Chinese Taipei”.
The amount of financial support was unclear. According to media reports, Huang and another speed skater had applied for a total of 1.9 million Taiwan dollars in training aid last year, according to the CNA news agency.
