PARIS — The table tennis arena was a churning sea of color, with spectators waving the Chinese five stars and the French tricolor. But despite its athletes competing on the floor, one competitor’s flag was nowhere to be seen: Taiwan’s.

At Paris 2024, Taiwan’s red and blue flag is banned, as is the name “Taiwan” and its anthem. The island, which is claimed by Beijing, is only one of three competitors whose flag is banned from these Olympics, the others being Russia and Belarus over