Taiwan joined the chorus of disapproval yesterday aimed at organizers of the Asian Games, in Busan, South Korea.
Athletes have complained at the amount of traveling they have had to do, delegation leaders have said there are inadequate translation services and journalists have claimed there are too few phones and the Internet is too slow.
The deputy chief of the Taiwan delegation to the Games, Lin Der-chia, said there had been transport, communication and training problems for the nation's team.
He said that on his arrival in South Korea last week all information was in Korean, "not even English and no Chinese."
"When we came here things were just not prepared. I hear other countries are having the same problems and it's a bit of a shame," Lin said.
Lin cited the difficulty some athletes have had getting to the training areas because of the distances between the various sports stadiums and the Athletes' Village.
"It is better now but we are still having a bit of trouble with venues being far away. With the bicycles for instance, it is an hour to get there with all the equipment and then you have to come back. It's too much."
Lin said there had been some surprise amongst the Taiwan delegation because of South Korea's experience with handling big sporting events.
"This is not the same," he said. "The Koreans have organized the Asian Games before and the Olympic Games and, of course, the World Cup. We have been a little surprised but things are running more smoothly now."
Warm welcome
Most teams at the Asian Games have been greeted by singing and dancing by South Koreans dressed in traditional costume.
The arrival of more than 50 Taiwanese athletes on Friday at Gimhae Airport in Busan was no different.
Despite being tired after catching connecting flights from Incheon Airport in Seoul, they were treated to flag-waving and an impromptu concert while they got into the bus taking them to the Athletes' Village.
South Korea has mobilized thousands of volunteers to cover the Asian Games and some organizations have been preparing for months to entertain the athletes and spectators at airports or outside stadiums.
In addition, Busan residents are being exhorted to hoist a flag of their own country or a participating country throughout the Asian Games, which begin today and end Oct. 14.
At work, on main roads, hanging off the balconies of homes in flats, flags are everywhere.
Even professional flag waving organizations, such as the Flag Promotion Association Saemaul movement and the Moral Live group, have been brought in to promote the idea.
Clearly, flags are serious business in South Korea and the Busan Metropolitan City Council has warned citizens that dirty or damaged flags are not welcome.
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