TAIPEI (Reuters – Taiwan’s Olympic Team for Beijing Winter Olympics will participate in the closing ceremony after the International Olympic Committee told them they had to.

A senior Taiwan official said that China-claimed Taiwan feared Beijing would “downgrade Taiwan’s status” by putting Taiwan’s athletes next to those of Chinese-run Hong Kong during the opening ceremony.

Four athletes will be sent to Beijing by Sub-tropical Taiwan. This country has no winter sporting traditions and has not won any medals at the Winter Games.

Taiwan said Friday that the team wouldn’t be attending the closing or opening ceremonies. It blamed delays in flights and harsh anti-COVID-19 laws.

However, Taiwan’s Olympic Committee said Monday that it received several notices from the International Olympic Committee asking for cooperation in sending staff to the closing and opening ceremonies.

After discussions with Taiwan’s Sports Administration and based on their respect for the Olympic spirit, they have “adjusted” the plan to “cooperate to the policy of sending staff to the closing and opening ceremonies.”

It didn’t say how many members of the team (15 including trainers) would be present.

Beijing Games take place amid increased tensions between China, Taiwan and repeated Chinese military activities near the island.

Taiwan is competing in all sporting events as the “Chinese Taipei”, at Beijing’s request. Beijing sees Taiwan democratically-governed as part of China.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office refers to Taiwan’s group as “China Taipei” on Wednesday. This is in contrast with the Chinese Taipei official term.

The Taiwanese China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council rebuked the statement, stating that China had intentionally chosen to use the wrong name.