Taiwan's Badminton Win is Awkward for Olympics

Lee and Wang on the top podium, China (left) looking on

Taiwan hit the golden jackpot when Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin defeated China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in the men's badminton doubles final in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lee and Wang Chi-lin successfully defended their Tokyo Games title three years ago with consecutive wins -- the first men in badminton history to do this.

Needless to say Taiwanese residents were overjoyed with the result, where many watched the thrilling match on public screens. Taiwan -- or Chinese Taipei as it's called in the Olympics -- has one gold and two bronze.

Online news outlet HK01 reported that although the match began at 10.10pm, Chinese state media outlet CCTV didn't broadcast it until 11.03pm. And then the CCTV broadcast ended at 11.43pm and didn't show the medal ceremony either.

They are the first team to win back-to-back gold

However, people in China reported CCTV Channel 16 did broadcast the game live in its entirety and the commentator even congratulated the Chinese Taipei team on their victory.

"This is a chance to prove Taiwan's strength and to affirm our international status... In every area China suppresses us, we can't even use our proper name at the Olympics and are called Chinese Taipei. So our players are helping us become recognised," said fan Irene Lai.

Before the final, one female fan in a sports venue was holding a green poster in the shape of Taiwan with "台灣加油" on it when it was snatched by a mainland Chinese spectator.

The International Olympic Committee rules prohibit flags or signs that include political messages or support countries that are not participating in the Olympics.

But what the Chinese spectator did was political...