TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) on Monday (May 12) moved swiftly to dispel circulating rumors regarding flag restrictions at the upcoming World Masters Games during a radio interview with broadcaster Huang Wei-han (黃暐瀚). Lin made a clear distinction between ceremonial protocols and spectator freedoms, stressing that while official ceremonies will not display national flags, audience members face absolutely no restrictions on bringing flags to support their athletes.
The deputy mayor elaborated that athletes will be organized by sporting disciplines such as baseball and softball rather than by country, competing as individuals while adhering to Olympic-style protocols during competitions. Regarding award ceremonies, Lin explained that athletes will be identified by name only and cannot carry flags on the podium, though they may pose with flags afterward. She noted this arrangement mirrors procedures from previous international sporting events in Taiwan, including the Kaohsiung World Games and World University Games.
Supporting Lin's clarification, the World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City Executive Committee (2025雙北世界壯年運動會執行委員會) released an official statement refuting the flag ban rumors, confirming the event will adhere to International Masters Games Association (IMGA) guidelines. These protocols prohibit national flags during formal proceedings such as competitions and award ceremonies but impose no limitations on spectators. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) further reinforced this position, emphasizing that the organizing committee has explicitly communicated that audience members face no restrictions on bringing national flags into the stands.
The controversy erupted Sunday when a Facebook page circulated claims that Taiwan's national flag would be prohibited at the Games while China's flag would be permitted. The Taipei City Police Department (台北市警察局) launched an immediate investigation, determining the information to be false. Authorities subsequently summoned the page administrator for questioning and referred the case for prosecution under the "Social Order Maintenance Act" (社會秩序維護法), Taiwan's law governing public order and misinformation. ★
