This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics [1].
On July 24, 2012, just before the Olympic torch was about to relay across London [2], the national flag of Taiwan was removed from Regent Street [3] in the United Kingdom capital. All other national flags are still hanging to welcome representatives to this summer's Games from across the world.
Many Taiwanese feel disappointed about the sudden disappearance of the flag. Facebook user Yi-hao Liao complained [4] [zh]:
哀… 原本還高興一下下的
[5]London prepares to welcome the world for the start of the Olympics.
Reddit user lol_oopsie asked [6] why the national flag was removed:
I'm curious to know whether this is London officials panicking, or whether Chinese authorities warned them to take it down. Either way, I think it deserves some attention. All of the Olympic coverage has totally ignored it.
Another reddit user mintytiny tried to give an answer [6]:
Though didn't offer any explanation, yet according to Regent Street Association, they'll replace it with the Olympic flag used to represent Taiwan.
I have to say, this is really lame and any real explanation will be better.
Another Facebook user, Melissa Alexender, made a photo to protest [7] against the removal of Taiwan's national flag:
[7]Melissa Alexender's protest photo, via Facebook.
Underneath the photo, Melissa urges others to email the Regent Street management team, Anastasia, and ask them to put the Taiwan national flag back up. In response to Melissa's call, Kenneth Wong, wrote to the Regent Street Association and posted the reply [8] below Melissa’s photo:
Dear Kenneth
Thank you for your email.
This matter has been raised and I can confirm that the Chinese Taipei Flag will be going up tomorrow evening.
I can ensure you that all competing nations flags will be displayed.
Kind regards
Lucy Turnbull
Regent Street Association Ltd
Melissa Alexender was disappointed [9] by the reply:
We don't want the Chinese Taipei flag but our national flag! Regent Street is not covered by the Network of London Olympic Route neither part of Olympic Stadium, hence, there is no reason to refuse the placement of Taiwanese national flag!
Meanwhile, designer Tammy Lin wrote a light-hearted post making some creative suggestions [10] to rectify the situation, such as smuggling the Taiwanese flag back onto the street, making the flag into a 3D advert or turning it into a QR code [11].
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics [1].