Tue, Feb 12, 2002 page15

• Taiwan's Olympic odyssey continues

  LATE DEPARTURE The country's bobsled legend has arrived in Salt Lake City and the fortunes of Team Taiwan have taken a small upturn at the Games

  • By Jules Quartly / CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
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  Finally, Taiwan's three-time Olympian Chen Chin-san (陳金山) has turned up in Salt Lake City, Utah.

  His arrival averted a threatened eviction of the Taiwan team from the Olympic Village by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, but unfortunately Chen was not in good shape after his journey.

  

  Three of Taiwan's Olympic athletes pose on Steve ``Bam Bam'' Lynch's rig. From left to right are Steve Lee, Lin Ruei-ming and Chen Chien-sheng.

  PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM HUANG

  "Pilot Chen is having difficulty walking because a prior injury to his knee has been acting up," said Sam Huang (黃柳宗), luge coach and Team Taiwan spokesman.

  "The doctors have given Chen a cortisone shot and with some ice and rest he should be OK.

  "The stress from finances has made him overlook taking his medication which resulted in swollen joints."

  On a more positive note Chen was said to have been delighted by the polaroids of the bobsled that a high school in Salt Lake City has lent the nation's bobsled team.

  In an e-mail to the Taipei Times Huang said, "The first thing out of his mouth was, `When can we go see it?'

  "After battling sore joints, jet lag and stress it is now 12 in the morning and Chen wants to smell, touch, eat and ride the new sled."

  Trouble returned the next day, however, when the bobsled team went to pick up its uniforms and helmets for the bobsled run.

  As the Taiwan Olympic committee was returning home there was no transport available.

  So, everyone piled into Huang's Chevy pickup. Hsu Chi-you (許啟祐), the honorary president of the country's bobsled and luge association got the passenger seat, leaving three athletes squeezed in the rear bench seat and two in the pickup bed.

  Taiwan's intrepid Olympians managed to get downtown and avoid the police only to find the helmet shop had closed.

  Huang said, "Can you believe this! We still do not have helmets and the competition is just days away! We will just have to wait 'till tomorrow."

  Afterward the team met up on a hill overlooking the city for photos and some rest and recreation.

  Chen, to the relief of everyone, had recovered somewhat after his flight and some rest.

  Optimism -- a rare emotion for Team Taiwan -- was starting to spread through the camp, Huang said.

  "Despite Chen's ailments and injuries we are back to joking around and our spirits are high.

  "Once again our team is together," he said, referring to Lin Ruei-ming (林瑞明), "the new guy, is fitting in well. I cannot ask for better teammates. I look forward to being with them for the Asian Games as well as Turin [Italy] in 2008," Huang said.

  "My goal for the team is to be a dominating power in the Asian Games and perhaps in the Euro Cups next year."

  Presently, team Taiwan is concentrating on finding helmets, the upcoming bobsled competition and ... street racing.

  Huang said many athletes have been attending the races, which feature souped up cars, are illegal and are being held near an industrial park in the city.

  "I am sure if the Olympic committee people hear about this we will get yelled at," Huang said, "But who cares? It's racing and it's in our blood."
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