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HANCOCK'S GAME: Chef de mission gives Beijing the thumbs up

Tsai Szu-chueh, chef de mission of the Taiwan delegation, points out a few facts about cross-strait sporting relations. PHOTO: JOHN HANCOCK

Directly opposite the Taiwan delegation’s apartment block in the Athlete’s Village in Beijing are China’s red flag-draped dorms.

Taiwan’s chef de mission Tsai Szu-chueh (蔡賜爵) points at them and the ornamental pond between the two camps when he says, “It’s just like the Taiwan Strait.”

The sports administrator has been leading Taiwan’s athletes across the globe for the past 11 years, including the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, and in Doha and the Athens Olympics.

Even so, he rates Beijing No. 1.

“The hardware, like construction, is the best and the volunteers have shown great dedication by offering high-level services,” he said, ensconced in his cozy office.

“The only disappointment is the Chinese food offered in the Olympic Village is not as unique as Beijing has claimed,” Tsai added, speaking of the limited range of fruit on offer compared with Taiwan.

Commenting on local media reports claiming Taiwan athletes were feeling at home in Beijing, Tsai said this was true to an extent because of a shared history and frequent interactions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

“Taiwan does enjoy closer ties with China than with other nations, not to mention the fact that we share the same language and similar culture,” he said. “But we take a dispassionate view of competing here. We do not ask that China treat us any differently to other people from around the world.”

Regarding the medal count, Tsai was reasonably bullish after the team pocketed two bronzes in weightlifting and with the taekwondo competition yet to begin.

He was talking about Athens gold medalist Chu Mu-yen (朱木炎) and said it was important not to put too much pressure on him — when taekwondo coach Hou Wei-hsing (侯緯星) walked in.

“There’s no problem with Chu’s skills,” Hou said. “His biggest rival is himself, no one else.”

Tsai admitted he was disappointed with Taiwan’s baseball team, particularly the defeat against China, but complimented the opposition.

“China’s baseball has made considerable improvements over the years, that’s not in doubt. What’s more important is for us to review our system at home,” he said.

“Some of our professional baseball players go to Japan or the US to further their careers and when important events like the Olympics come their teams do not necessarily release them, like New York Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-ming (王建民),” Hou said.

“We need to create a better environment for players to bring their talents into full play so that fans can watch their favorite players compete for our country,” he said.

Speaking of the increasing professionalism within top-level sport, Tsai said it was important for the government to pump money in if it wanted its athletes to succeed.

He said the long-awaited sports lotto launched in May had caused a backlash in sporting circles because revenues were being ploughed into social welfare programs instead.

Even so, he said, Taiwan’s athletes were being richly rewarded for winning medals, with prize money of NT$12 million (gold), NT$7 million (silver) and NT$5 million (bronze), on offer.
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