ABSTRACT
In 1979, Mr He Zhenliang became the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in the People’s Republic of China after nearly thirty years of negotiating with the IOC over its recognition of Taiwan as a representative of China. The major source of power of the IOC is the power to award an Olympic Games to a city. The hosting of an Olympic Games by a city and nation is arguably the major point at which historical transformation, and in particular the movement or lack of movement toward greater diversity, takes place. Japan’s presence as the strongest Asian sports power was reinforced by the 1964 Games, and it was extremely influential in IOC policies toward Asian nations, particularly toward the sticky problem of the China–Taiwan conflict. The restoration of China’s seat in the IOC in 1979 opened the door for the rise to power of He Zhenliang, who became the first member of the IOC in the People’s Republic of China.
