Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lin Yung-chien is scheduled to lead a delegation to Italy to bid for hosting the Universiade in 2007.
Lin told reporters that his delegation, to be composed of officials from the Cabinet-level National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Kaohsiung city government, will deliver a briefing to the executive committee of the International University Sports Federation on Kaohsiung's qualifications for organizing the athletic meet.
Representatives from Thailand, Mexico and Poland will also bid for the right to host the 2007 Universiade during the executive committee meeting scheduled to be held Jan. 14, Lin said.
According to Lin, Bangkok is expected to be Kaohsiung's main rival following Vancouver's decision to withdraw its bid due to opposition from the Canadian Parliament.
He said that International University Sports Federation Vice President Hironoshin Furunhashi, at the head of four executive committee members, visited various sports facilities in Kaohsiung, Tainan City and Pingtung County in October and was happy to hear that both I-Shou University and National Cheng Kung University would allow athletes to use their dormitories during the games.
Noting that the city government is working to expand several sports facilities and renovate older ones, Lin said that Kaohsiung has the required conditions and ability to host the games.
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