Taiwan's Olympic bobsled and luge teams planned to pull out of the Winter Games yesterday because of an argument with the government over money.
But a boycott was averted when the National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports agreed to a face-saving deal with bobsled pilot Chen Chin-san (
The three-time Olympian said the government didn't meet costs he had incurred qualifying for the Games in the US and Europe.
At a press conference yesterday in Taipei, however, he backed down and said an agreement with the sports council had been reached and he would fly to Salt Lake City, Utah, after all.
"The problem has been solved," Chen said. "Yes, I was quite angry but I believe Chu Chow-chien (
Asked whether the cash disagreement would affect his preparations for the Olympics, Chen said, "I feel quite comfortable now and the money problems should not affect our competitiveness."
At issue was a NT$100,000 phone bill and a NT$30,000 excess-baggage charge that Chen had to pay out of his own pocket.
He had requested financial assistance from the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, but was told to apply to the National Athletic Training Center in Kaohsiung, which said it did not have a budget to meet such expenses.
An outraged Chen then informed his teammates and the sports council that he would not be going to the Games.
Taiwan's Olympic hopes have been skating on thin ice for the past month, with accusations the government has not adequately supported its athletes.
In an e-mail to the Taipei Times yesterday from Salt Lake City, the country's luge team coach Huang Liu-tsung (
Huang charged the government had reneged on promises of a new bobsled, equipment, travel expenses and uniforms for the Olympics.
He said the country's athletes and Chen in particular had finally had enough. "I guess this is coming down to the wire. It's a game of chicken," he said.
Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Taipei Amateur Luge and Bobsleigh Association Hsu Chi-you (許啟祐) said Chen had made a lot of sacrifices for his country, but that they had not been appreciated.
"He went to Europe and the US for competition and training and even though he faced considerable danger and succeeded he has not been recognized," Hsu said.
The costs of competing outweighed the money given by the government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Hsu said. "This is why there has been a shortfall in financing our campaign."
In response, a spokeswoman from the Olympic committee said cash problems had arisen because the bobsled and luge association had not filed accounts for the money it had received from the government and the IOC.
"There is never enough money. The question we have is: Has the money been spent in the right way?"
"It is the sports council, not the Olympic committee is responsible for meeting training costs," she added.
Chen was scheduled to leave for the US today, but canceled his ticket. New ticketing plans are being made.
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