PFP lawmakers oppose proposed merger of councils

A group of People First Party lawmakers led by Cheng Chih-lung (鄭志龍) -- a former professional basketball player -- yesterday expressed opposition to the Executive Yuan's plan to merge the National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports with the Council for Cultural Affairs.

Cheng insisted that authorities governing sports affairs should be kept independent, because this is the trend around the globe.

In response, council chairman Lin Te-fu (林德福) said he understands that many in the world's athletic circles expect to see the establishment of a ministerial-level agency for sports affairs, but there are currently problems achieving this idea, because the government is undergoing a downsizing plan.

According to Cheng a total of 53 countries, constituting 33.8 percent of all the world's countries, have an independent agency overseeing their sports affairs.