Tibetan Olympics Torch Relay in Taipei, Taiwan
Tibetan activists stage symbolic torch relay in Taiwan (AFP)
Miss Tibet 2006 Tsering Chungtak (center) stages a symbolic torch relay 
A group of Tibetans stage a symbolic torch relay News: Interview: Miss Tibet shares thoughts on sports and pageantsTAIPEI, Taiwan, 25 February 2008 (Taipei Times) — Standing in front of an oversized picture of the Dalai Lama, the 23-year-old Tibetan beauty queen from India clasped her palms together and bowed her head before pulling up a chair. "I respect His Holiness and I follow his teachings," she said, saying the phrase "role model" was grossly insufficient to describe the impact that the Tibetan spiritual leader has had on her and on the world, "because he is everything." read Press release: Taipei leg of Tibetan Olympics torch relayTAIPEI, Taiwan, 24 February 2008 — The Tibetans in Taipei, in collaboration with the Taiwanese Friends of Tibet, are organizing on Sunday, 24 February, a symbolic Tibetan Olympic Torch Relay in front of the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. The Taipei leg of the Tibetan Olympics torch relay is led by Miss Tibet 2006 Tsering Chungtak. The worldwide Tibetan Olympics torch relay, which started in Delhi, India, on 30 January 2008, will go to over 10 cities on five continents before arriving back in Dharamshala, India in May. read AnnouncementTAIPEI, Taiwan — The Taipei march will start at Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, Taipei, on 24 February. Organisers[an error occurred while processing this directive] |
24 February 2008 – TAIWAN (AFP) — Tibetan activists on Sunday staged a symbolic torch relay in Taipei ahead of their "Olympics", a move sure to irk China after Taiwan refused to allow the torch for the Beijing Games on its soil. Former Miss Tibet Tsering Chungtak, clad in a traditional robe, held the torch on the square in front of Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, where a small group of Tibetans and Taiwanese had gathered, waving a "Tibetan Olympics" flag. The Tibetan Olympics, an event for Tibetans in exile from around the world, will be held in Dharamsala, India — home to the region's government-in-exile — in May. "Organising the Tibetan Olympics is a good event because we all love sports," Tsering told AFP. "It will provide a platform for Tibetan youths. They can come and play in different sport events." Tsering denied that the Tibetan torch relay, which started in New Delhi late last month, had any political overtones. But officials in China were likely to bristle. Taiwan last year flatly rejected China's offer of taking the Olympic torch for the 2008 Beijing Games to Taipei, after talks collapsed over the sensitive issues of which flags, songs and emblems would be used on the island's leg. Chinese Olympic organisers had demanded that only flags, emblems and songs approved by the International Olympic Committee should be used in the Taiwan relay. Taiwan is not allowed to use its national flags, insignia or songs at IOC events or other international sports competitions. Taiwan and China split in 1949. Beijing regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. China sent troops into Tibet in 1950 and officially "liberated" it a year later. The Dalai Lama later fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising and established a government-in-exile in Dharamsala. He has been at odds with the atheist communist government in Beijing ever since. More about the Taipei Torch Relay
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