President praises sports quangos

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) received the heads of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Table Tennis Committee (ITTC) and the Far East and South Pacific Games Federation for the Disabled (FESPIC) at the Presidential Office yesterday, thanking them for their contribution to the development of sports for the disabled.

Chen told IPC President Philip Graven, ITTC President Christian Lillieroos and FESPIC President Kazuo Hatada that Taiwan is happy to have organized the 2002 International Table Tennis Championship for the Disabled which began yesterday in Taipei. There are more than 300 players from 45 nations taking part in the event, he noted.

Chen thanked the leaders of the organizations for their efforts in organizing the games for the disabled who, he said, need more attention and encouragement from society.

Also present were National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports Chairman Lin Teh-fu (林德福).