NBC Changes Macedonian Web page Under Greek Pressure

The original text on NBC's Olympic page about Macedonia:

A small, landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans in Southeast Europe, bordering Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Serbia. Declared its independence from Yugoslavia in September 1991.


When Macedonia became independent in 1991, Greece objected to the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" because "Macedonia" is the name of a region in Greece. In 1993, the United Nations (followed by the European Union, NATO, the IOC and others) recognized Macedonia by the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," which remains the country's name according to those organizations.

However, the United States has referred to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, since 2004. Negotiation between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name dispute are ongoing.

Olympic Tradition:
Macedonia will be making its fourth appearance in the Olympic Games. Magomed Ibragimov is the only medalist in the nation's history - he won a bronze medal in the 85kg/187.25 lbs freestyle wrestling division at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Philip II, King of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great, won three Olympic titles at the ancient Games.

Beijing Outlook:
Macedonia is not expected to contend for a medal at the Beijing Games.

After Greek pressure (again), the content of the page was changed.

A small, landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans in Southeast Europe, bordering Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Serbia. Declared its independence from Yugoslavia in September 1991.

When Macedonia became independent in 1991, Greece objected to the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" because "Macedonia" is the name of a region in Greece. In 1993, the United Nations (followed by the European Union, NATO, the IOC and others) recognized Macedonia by the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," which remains the country's name according to those organizations.

However, the United States has referred to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, since 2004. Negotiation between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name dispute are ongoing.

Olympic Tradition:
Macedonia is competing at its 4th Olympic Summer Games in Beijing as an independent nation. Magomed Ibragimov is the only medalist in the nation's history - he won a bronze medal in the 85kg/187.25 lbs freestyle wrestling division at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Beijing Outlook:
Seven athletes in five sports are trying to join freestyle wrestler Magomed Ibragimov (2000) as medal winners for the Balkan nation.

The webpage can be found here.

FYROM parades under official name in Beijing

The Olympic delegation of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) yesterday paraded in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympiad under a banner with the initials of its official name FYROM, used by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This followed Greek representations to the IOC and the organizers to stop the neighboring country from using its constitutional name of “Republic of Macedonia.” The Hellenic Olympic Committee also complained regarding a reference to FYROM athletes on the official Games website as “Macedonians.” Separately, FYROM Premier Nikola Gruevski snubbed a suggestion that UN mediator Matthew Nimetz might propose “New Democratic State of Macedonia” to resolve the name dispute with Greece. “It will have the same fate as his last proposal,” he said.

Greek Olympic committee protests over Macedonia name entry

Greece said Friday it had filed a complaint with the Beijing Olympic committee over the use of the name ""Macedonia"" in relation to Skopje's entry to the Olympic Games on its official website.

Greece and its northern neighbor are locked in a bitter dispute over the right to use the name ""Macedonia,"" which applies to both the former Yugoslav state and a northern Greek province.

Athens claims that Skopje's use of the name implies territorial ambitions beyond its existing borders.

""There has been an official protest to the Bocog president, Liu Qi, and the vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Lambis Nikolaou, has raised the issue with the IOC chief Jacques Rogge,"" Greek Olympic committee head Minos Kyriakou said in a statement.

Macedonia, which gained independence in 1991, was made a member of the United Nations in 1993 under the temporary name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Subsequent negotiations on the name dispute, under UN auspices, have so far been fruitless.

In Skopje after the opening ceremony, the Macedonian government urged Athens to back off.

""The government of the Republic of Macedonia is appealing on Greece to leave politics out of sport fields,"" the Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Bocevski told reporters in Skopje.

""We appeal (to) our southern neighbor to let the spirit of Olympics and sport competitions to find its place at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The disputes we have are bilateral ones and are being solved through usual forums and dialogues,"" Bocevski said.

More than 120 states have recognized the former Yugoslav republic under the name ""The Republic of Macedonia,"" including China, Russia, the United States and Turkey, although no European Union member has.

Athens protests over use of names Macedonia, Macedonians at Olympic Games in Beijing

The Government and the Olympic Committee in Greece have sent a protest letter to the Organizational Committee of the Olympic Games in Beijing over the use of the words ‘Macedonia’ and ‘Macedonian’ during the formal presentation of the sportspeople from the Republic of Macedonia and in texts, published on the Internet page of the Olympic Games, the Macdeodnian TV channel Sitel reported.
The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis said that Macedonia should be called by the name, registered in the UN as it was at the last Olympic Games in Athens and in Sydney.