Taiwan to stage soccer event for foreign workers

2015/12/01

The first soccer competition for foreign workers in Taiwan will take place Dec. 13 in New Taipei City, underscoring public and private sector efforts to create a friendly and inclusive environment for new immigrants.

Jointly organized by the city’s Sports Office as well as Taipei City-based nongovernmental organizations 4-Way Voice and Global Workers’ Organization, and partially sponsored by the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Taiwan Migrants Soccer Competition will see four teams battle it out for first place.

According to the organizers, there are more than 600,000 immigrant workers in Taiwan, mostly from Southeast Asian nations. “It is imperative that the country caters to the various needs of these individuals,” GWO Chairman Hsu Jui-hsi said.

Soccer is one of the most popular leisure activities among foreign workers, with an estimated 50-plus teams playing regularly around the country.

“For example, Indonesian workers have established more than 20 soccer teams. When the number reaches 30 next year, they plan to organize their own major league soccer in Taiwan,” Hsu said.

Thai workers also host their own competition every year in central Taiwan’s Taichung City, while Vietnamese workers are equally enthusiastic about the game, according to Hsu.

“Besides highlighting society-wide efforts to encourage foreign workers to take advantage of Taiwan’s public facilities, the event will also help promote cultural exchanges,” she added.

Among the four participating teams, the sides representing Indonesian and Vietnamese workers have already been selected. The group representing Thailand will be chosen Dec. 6 in Taichung, while the fourth participating team, T2 LIGA, will comprise players from Taiwan, The Gambia, Japan, South Korea and the U.S.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239561&ctNode=2194&mp=9)