Politics at the Olympics games (PRC vs ROC)

I am amazed by the amount of politics there is in sport, especially in the Olympic Games. The matter of Taiwan’s or Republic of China (ROC) participation at any Olympic Games and other international sporting events has and still till this day been politicised.  Until the 1980’s, the ROC’s National Olympic Committee was the sole representative of China in the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and competed under the name Republic of China. But when the majority of the international community and organisations changed diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, the Olympics became a political tool for the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to put pressure on the IOC to ban Taiwan from competing. After many years of negotiating between Taiwan, PRC and the IOC, Taiwan was forced to change its name to Chinese Taipei, and use a different flag, rather then their national flag.

Since the change in name and status of Taiwan Olympic Participation, Chinese authorities have on a number of occasions in the past and more recently at the London games have prevented any symbols of Taiwan to be present in public viewing. An example of this was when British authorities, under the discretion of the Chinese government replaced a Taiwan flag with the Olympic flag.

And it's not just the Olympics. A similar flag has to be used for all Taiwan's international related competition/committee involvement.

In all, it seem to me very petty on the part of the PRC to go to this length to present to the rest of the world that Taiwan is a renegade province of mainland China, that they think will one day repatriate with them. Even though most of the world knows that Chinese Taipei is a separate country, with its own democratically elected government, and a population proud of who they are. 

Related articles:
CNN: How flags and anthems have been bungled before
The Guardian: London 2012: Taiwan compete under flag of convenience