Taiwan should win seven gold medals at the Olympic Games in Beijing, the country’s top official in charge of sports affairs said yesterday.
Yang Jong-her (楊忠和), chairman of the Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council, said 37 male and 24 female Taiwanese athletes have qualified to compete in nine events at the games and these athletes are expected to win seven gold and many other medals at the games.
Taiwanese athletes are seen as having their best chances of winning gold in the taekwondo, weightlifting, archery and tennis competitions, Yang said during a session at the Legislative Yuan.
Taiwanese athletes have registered to compete in other events, including women’s softball, table tennis, track and field, swimming and baseball, Yang said.
At the session, ruling Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuan Pi-ling (管碧玲) suggested that the Sports Affairs Council emulate the US and plan to boycott the opening ceremony to express Taiwan’s indignation over China’s military crackdown on Tibetan protesters.
Responding to Kuan’s suggestion, Yang said that his council has “resolved to adhere to the principle of separating politics from sports.”
Yang added that the Sports Affairs Council will consult other Cabinet agencies on issues pertaining to Taiwan’s participation in international sports competitions and the country’s hosting of international sporting events, such as the World Games, set to take place in Kaohsiung next year.
Taiwanese athletes won two gold medals, both in taekwondo, as well as two silvers and one bronze at the last Olympic Games held in Athens in 2004. The nation finished in 31st position in the overall medal standings.
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