Beijing - Wu Jingguo, former chairman of Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC), said he would let Taipei deal with the controversial torch relay issue after Beijing Games organizers restated their firm standing on the plan.

Wu Jingguo speaks at the ceremony

"Let the Taiwan authority make their own decision," Wu told chinadaily.com.cn, but declined to make further comments on the sensitive relay route plan.

Wu was at a signing ceremony with former chairman of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch, who together Wang Jinyu, president of Beiqi Foton Grouop, established funds to help promote China's youth tennis development.

Earlier that day, a BOCOG official said Beijing insisted that Taiwan would be included in the torch relay plan only after they agreed with previous plan.

"We hope they will stay free from artificial factors and return to the written agreement made by both sides and validated by the International Olympic Committee," said BOCOG vice president Jiang Xiaoyu.

"If the CTOC can return to the previous agreement, the selection of the 120 torch bearers for Taipei will kick off after that."

When interviewed by chinadaily.com.cn, Wu said he hadn't heard Jiang's statement.

Born in 1946 in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, Wu claimed to be the only Chinese who voted for Beijing to host the 2008 Olympics six years ago at an annual IOC meeting.

Asking if his pro-mainland status would bring criticism to him from within the island, Wu said being a member of IOC, the world of sports has no boundaries.

"I know this is a sensitive issue on the mainland, but it does not matter that much in Taiwan," Wu said. "I never handled sports like politics and I do what's the best for sports."