People's Republic of China (CHN)

Although the current National Olympic Committee (NOC) was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1979, the first Chinese Olympic Committee was formed in 1910 and recognized in 1922. China competed at the Olympic Games of 1932, 1936, and 1948. In September 1949, Chinese Communists assumed control of the government, and many of the former rulers escaped to the island province of Taiwan, including many former members of the Chinese Olympic Committee (possibly as many as 19 of 26). Due to visa problems, only one athlete from the Chinese mainland could compete at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. Thus began a 40-year political problem for the IOC: the question of the “two Chinas”.

In May 1954, at the 50th IOC session in Athens, the IOC voted by 23-21 to recognize both the Chinese Olympic Committee in Beijing (then Peking) (as the “Olympic Committee of the Chinese Republic”, later in 1957 as the “Olympic Committee of the People’s Democratic Republic of China”) and in Taipei (as the “Chinese Olympic Committee”).

Both Chinas were invited to the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. Beijing accepted the invitation on 20 November, which led Taipei to reject the invitation. However, Taipei changed its decision and elected to compete, which caused Beijing to withdraw in protest. At Melbourne, no athletes from mainland China competed, while 21 athletes from the island nation competed under the banner of the Republic of China. The Beijing committee withdrew from the IOC on 19 August 1958, in protest of the IOC’s continued recognition of Taiwan.

A request to be recognized again was submitted in 1975. The IOC requested the All-China Sports Federation to send its rules for inspection, a standard procedure. The All-China Sports Federation took two years to comply, but its application was eventually approved on 25 November 1979.

In the interim, the IOC sent a three-member contingent, led by New Zealander Lance Cross, to inspect sporting facilities in China. Cross reported to the IOC at its 81st Session in Montevideo in April 1979. The IOC made the following recommendations at this Session: “In the Olympic spirit, and in accordance with the Olympic Charter, the IOC resolves: 1) to recognize the Chinese Olympic Committee located in Peking [Beijing], and 2) to maintain recognition of the Chinese Olympic Committee located in Taipei. All matters pertaining to names, anthems, flags and constitutions will be the subject of studies and agreements which will have to be completed as soon as possible.” The full Session approved this motion by 36-30. The IOC Executive Board modified this slightly, changing part two to read “to maintain recognition of the Olympic Committee located in Taipei… “

China returned to the Olympic fold in 1980 at Lake Placid. It did not compete in 1980 at Moskva, effectively joining the USA-led boycott, but China has competed at all other Olympic Games and Olympic Winter Games since 1984. Chinese athletes have won 608 Olympic medals, 237 of them gold, all since 1984, with 62 medals and 13 golds at the Winter Olympics. Chinese athletes excel in gymnastics, table tennis, diving, and swimming. The most successful Chinese athlete has been the female diver Wu Minxia, who won five gold, one silver, and one bronze between 2004 and 2016. The most successful Chinese Winter Olympian is short tracker Wang Meng, who won four gold, one silver, and one bronze in 2006 and 2010.

China hosted the Games of the XXIXth Olympiad in Beijing in 2008. It is scheduled to host the 24th Olympic Winter Games in 2022, also in Beijing. In 1985 the Olympic Committee of China was awarded with the Olympic Cup.