Fri, Jul 17, 2009 - Page 1 News List

World Games light up Kaohsiung

INDOMITABLE ENTHUSIASM The crowd of 40,000 cheered at the three main performances and fireworks that opened Taiwan’s first major international sports event

By Richard Hazeldine  /  STAFF REPORTER, IN KAOHSIUNG

Prizes in a series of lotteries to be drawn at the end of the games include an apartment, a car and a variety of cash prizes.

In Taipei, commenting on the non-attendance of Chinese athletes at the opening ceremony, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) said that to the best of his knowledge, China’s decision was the result of a brainstorming session between the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and Chinese authorities.

“The two sides discussed the issue frankly and sincerely before reaching that decision,” Wu said, adding that he fully supported the arrangement.

“It’s a wise, goodwill decision that will contribute to harmony and the development of relations between our two sides,” he said.

KMT Legislator Huang Chih-hsiung (黃志雄), a former Olympic medalist, meanwhile, dismissed the need to be concerned about the political implications behind the delegation’s absence.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG AND CNA

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