Citing concerns about #HongKong's #NSL, #Taiwan announced today that it will not send a team to next year's Gay Games in Hong Kong. france24.com/en/live-news/2…
That means #Taiwan, the only country in Asia where same-sex marriage is legalized, will be absent from the major sporting event for the LGBTQ community worldwide.
"We have decided not to send a national delegation as we don't expect to be able join as Taiwan and to ensure personal safety of the athletes," said Yang Chih-chun, president of the Taiwan Gay Sports and Movement Association.
Yang said his organisation, a formal member of the Federation of Gay Games, would assist any Taiwanese player who wanted to attend in a personal capacity.
"But we won't actively encourage individual participation since there's no guarantee of a player's personal safety because under Hong Kong's national security law, arrests can be made under any excuse," he said.
Additionally, in a statement, the Gay Games said it would follow the convention of Taiwan being called either "Chinese Taipei" or "Taiwan region".
Athletes from Taiwan and the TGSMA were welcome to attend, organisers said.
But they added: "We are strictly non-partisan and non-political, and we ask all participants and visitors to respect and observe local laws and customs during their stay in Hong Kong."
But they added: "We are strictly non-partisan and non-political, and we ask all participants and visitors to respect and observe local laws and customs during their stay in Hong Kong."
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