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Taiwan can host Olympics too, Frank Hsieh declares

To the surprise of assembled journalists, Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday said that Taiwan should apply to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

"With more and more outstanding and remarkable achievements by Taiwanese athletes, I think it is time for us to go for the application," Hsieh said. "To host the Olympic Games would be a great promotion for Taiwan, anyway."

Hsieh made his remarks during the opening speech for the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday morning.

Speaking on behalf of Hsieh, Cabinet Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) continued this issue during the press conference after the meeting. He said that the competition between New York, Moscow, Madrid, London and Paris to host the 2012 Olympic Games inspired the premier with more thoughts.

"We are definitely capable of organizing an international game like this," Cho said. "Taiwan is growing stronger and stronger in every aspect, including sports. More and more Taiwanese athletes, such as Los Angeles Dodger Chen Chin-feng (陳金鋒) and New York Yankee Wang Chien-ming (王建明) have proven that statement with their remarkable achievements."

Cho said that Taiwan is a small country, but it is definitely capable of organizing such an international event. Taiwanese people will prove this during the 2008 World Games in Kaohsiung, he said.

However, Cho also said that although Taiwanese athletes have proved to the world that Taiwanese people are eligible to host international games, basic construction on infrastructure such as gyms, pools and tracks has yet to begin and must be hurried up.

"We must have a dream, and we must be confident in ourselves that our dream can be carried out, sooner or later," Cho said.

The spokesman suggested that Taiwan shall organize more international games between 2008 and 2013 for promotion purposes, since the host of the 2020 olympics will not be decided until 2013.

Cho did not clearly state which city in Taiwan would be nominated to the make the application.

"Although Kaohsiung will be the city for the 2008 World Games, it is not necessary to have the same city represent Taiwan in the application to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2020 Olympic Games," Cho said.

"Every city in Taiwan has the chance," the spokesman said. "I would encourage everybody to do their best to fight for the representation of Taiwan and go for the 2020 Olympic Games."

To become a winner of the competition to host the Olympic Games, the city must come from a country whose athletes are remarkable and whose economic system is healthy, Hsieh said.

"As long as we keep trying, there must be a chance for us," Hsieh said. "If we care more about sports, we will be able to do it."

Also see story:
Chen cheers on athletes departing for World Games
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