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Taiwan bobsledder improves but future of sport is doubtful

As Taiwan's Olympic bobsledder recovers from a serious car accident in the US, a high-level meeting in Taipei yesterday discussed the future of Taiwan's winter sports program.

Doctors at the Genesis Medical Center in Iowa have given Steve Lee (李嘉展) six months to recover after a horrific crash last week with an 18-wheeler truck on the way home from the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Lee was said to have "stabilized" after suffering seizures earlier in the week, but his condition is still serious.

His friend and fellow Olympian Sam Huang (黃柳宗) said, "He is mostly sedated and without medication he tends to freak out by grabbing everything in sight, so they have to keep him calm."

Lee, who was thrown out of Huang's pickup truck by the force of the impact, underwent emergency surgery for massive internal injuries. He lost a kidney, parts of his intestines and broke his leg.

Huang escaped from the smash with minor injuries.

Meanwhile, in Taipei, a meeting to discuss the future of Taiwan's participation at the Winter Games ended without any firm decision.

The meeting was chaired by sports federation chairman and Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee delegation chief Tsai Cheng-wei (蔡辰威).

Items on the agenda included the selection of delegates for the Games, the performance of its athletes and the continued development of winter sports.

The honorary chairman of the Taiwan luge and bobsled association Hsu Chi-you (許啟祐) said, "As to a final conclusion there was nothing definite, but we can say there may be a trend against participation."
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