Former Premier Frank Hsieh who is running to become Mayor of Taipei continued his promise that if elected mayor in the December 9 election he would work to win the city the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
But at a press conference Monday two opposition party members said Hsieh’s bid for the Taipei 2020 Games is “destined to be a back check”.
Huang Chih-hsiung and Wu Chih-yang also noted that Hsieh has used the five-ring Olympic emblem in his election brochures, banners and mementos to highlight his campaign promise, reports the Taiwan Central News Agency.
They warned that the encroachment on the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) trademark may cause the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee to be suspended and make it impossible for Tawian’s athletes to compete in the Olympic Games.
The news agency reports that Huang, a taekwondo silver medallist in the 2004 Athens Games, pointed out that the five-ring Olympic symbol is a registered trademark and cannot be used without the approval of the IOC’s Executive Board. It is subject to copyright and trademark protection. Huang said he had sent a formal request to the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee asking them to take action on the issue.
Later on Monday Juan Chao-hsiung, director of Hsieh’s election campaign in charge of publicity, said that out of respect for the IOC and the Olympic Games the five-ring Olympic emblem will no longer be used.
He also denied that Hsieh’s bid to win the right for Taipei to host the 2020 Summer Games would be nothing but a “back check” and urged members of the public to support the idea.
