Taipei, Sept. 7 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that Taiwan has rich experience in hosting international games and urged a world sports leader to support Taiwan's bid to host the World University Games.
The president made the remarks when he received George E. Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation, (FISU) at the Presidential Office.
Chen described the World University Games as "the cradle of the Olympic Games, " adding that Taiwan has hosted several individual games events authorized by the FISU such as archery, taekwondo, golf and baseball, since 1998.
Taiwan's archers and taekwondo fighters won medals in the just-concluded Athens Olympics Games, and their excellent performance is related to Taiwan's hosting of FISU individual events, the president claimed.
Chen also noted that Taiwan lost its bid to host the 2007 World University Games to Thailand by one vote because of interference from mainland China.
Killian for his part said he is sure that Taiwan will be able to realize its goal of hosting the World University Games, probably in 2011.