More extreme sporting action is on offer today in Taiwan, with a skating and BMX championship taking place in Taipei and a windsurfing open challenge event going on in Changhua County.
The 2002 Asia Extreme Sports Championships took off in Taipei yesterday with more than 200 athletes from eight countries and regions participating.
The participants will vie for titles in seven events in the two-day contest which will last through Jan. 5, including BMX Fatland, BMX Park, BMX Vert, Skateboard Park, Skateboard Vert, Inline Park and Inline Vert.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
He said he hoped that the competitions would help increase exchanges and friendship among the participants and the nations that they represent.
The championships are jointly organized by the Chinese Extreme Sports Association and the Bureau of Education of the Taipei City Government, which has been hosting a series of pre-contest activities in Taipei.
Meanwhile, the 2003 Taiwan Windsurfing Cup (台灣盃風浪板錦標賽) yesterday opened at Changpin Industrial Park Port (彰濱工業區) in Changhua County, attracting more than 100 athletes from around the world. The port is one of the biggest and hottest locations for windsurfing, according to the county government.
Braving gusty winter winds, windsurfers from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and the US, ranging in age from 11 to over 50, are competing for the championship.
The two-day competition is scheduled to end this afternoon.
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