Taipei, June 28 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian exhorted the nation's civil servants Saturday to glorify sportsmanship and contribute to administrative reform.
Chen made the call at the opening ceremony for a ball sports tournament organized by the Cabinet for staff members of various central government agencies.
The sports meet at the Taipei County Stadium in Hsinchuang was originally scheduled for mid-May, but was postponed to this weekend due to outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Chen said he was delighted to see all participants in high spirits and good health. "The SARS virus has gripped Taiwan for the past two months, posing a threat to our life, health and livelihood," he said, adding that with the concerned efforts of the government, frontline health providers and volunteers, the nation has managed to bring the disease under control.
Although SARS is no longer the threat that it once was, Chen said local people must stay vigilant and maintain a hygienic and healthy lifestyle to prevent a resurgence of the disease.
Noting that the tournament was being held to encourage all civil servants to exercise regularly and enjoy recreation, Chen said he hopes the event can also help cultivate fraternity and team spirit among government employees and inspire ordinary citizens to exercise and engage in various kinds of sports.