Premier briefed on preparations for Taiwan’s Olympic team participation

2024/07/15

Premier Cho Jung-tai said the government will support Team Taiwan to its fullest extent in the 2024 Paris Olympics held July 26 to August 11, and that he will personally wave off the first tranche of five athletes and 36 staff members on the flight to Paris on July 19.

Cho made the remarks at the Executive Yuan July 11 where he was briefed on the national team’s preparations by the Ministry of Education Sports Administration and the Ministry of Culture. As well as a team of 60 athletes, for the first time in the Olympics, Taiwan will have a 30-member strong sports science team to support the athletes.

To provide the 26 male and 34 female athletes in 16 sports categories with comprehensive support services while in Paris, accommodation, physical therapy clinics and sports centers have been rented for the team, coaches and administrative staff, the MOE said. This ensures the competitors receive immediate input on diet, treatment and training during the competition.

Responding to Cho’s concern for the team’s security a Paris Olympics contingency mechanism has been established, which is an inter-departmental and team headquarter response team in both Taiwan and France respectively so that the athletes can prepare for competition with peace of mind in a stable environment.

The MOE reported that advance personnel to handle competition registration and other administrative tasks leave Taiwan on July 12 and 13 groups of athletes and coaches will depart thereafter in accordance with their competition schedules. Athletes and coaches will all travel business class for both their outbound and return journeys to ensure optimum physical condition on arrival.

In addition to competing in its traditional strengths of weightlifting, archery and table tennis, Taiwan has qualified for the Olympics for the first time in two other sports: canoeing and break dancing.

Cho said that for the first time this year, Taiwan is to participate in the Cultural Olympiad and with the Ministry of Culture’s assistance will showcase Taiwan's culture and diverse values through the soft power of art and cultural performances when the eyes of the world are on Paris. Held at the city’s Lafayette park, the MOC reported that the dynamic art portion comprising 23 groups and 123 artists will offer 58 performances and is conceived on four major themes: Voice of Freedom, Island Elegance, Contemporary New Art, and Integrated World, while the static art showcased is an exhibition of images by 300 artists from the Ministry of Culture’s Art Bank.

The premier noted that the Olympic Games is the most watched sporting event in the world and he thanked everyone for their hard work, adding that President Lai Ching-te’s policy vision encompassed promoting sports for all and using sports to strengthen Taiwan.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)