President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of July 19 headed to the National Sports Training Center operated by the Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council in the Zuoying District of Kaohsiung City where he handed the nation's Olympic flag to the team of athletes representing the ROC at this year's Summer Olympic Games in London. The president encouraged the athletes to do their best at the upcoming competition in order to win distinction both for themselves and the nation.
In remarks, the president pointed out that the 30th Summer Olympics will get underway in London on July 27. Members of the Chinese Taipei team from the ROC have qualified to participate in 14 of the 26 competitive sports at the games, and a total of 44 athletes are representing the ROC at the event. President Ma stated that the Summer Olympics this year will not feature baseball and softball, two events in which the ROC traditionally exhibits strength, and therefore the number of athletes from the ROC will be fewer than in the previous one. Nonetheless, the athletes look well-prepared for their upcoming competition and are extremely energetic, having prepared long and hard in their respective sports.
The president furthermore stated that this year's team from the ROC is comprised of many distinguished athletes. For instance, Hsu Jo-ting (徐若庭), a competitor in women’s fencing, is the first competitor in fencing from the ROC in 24 years, he said. Likewise, Chang Ming-huang (張銘煌), a competitor in men's shot put, is the first track-and-field athlete ever from the ROC to quality in the A standard for the games. The president also pointed out that Chang Hao (張浩), a competitor in sailing, is the first competitor in this event from Taiwan who has been solely trained in Taiwan and passed Olympic qualification for the event. President Ma said that badminton teams from the ROC are competing in five events, including men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. This is the first time that the ROC has competed in so many badminton categories, he added. President Ma also expressed his deepest appreciation to the over 50 coaches, medical personnel, analysts, and administrators, saying that they are the people behind the scenes who have provided so much work and support to the athletes.
President Ma expressed his feeling that physical stamina represents national strength and that a prerequisite for a strong nation is a strong body. Consequently, he said that he has long supported the promotion of athletics throughout the several decades he has been involved in politics. The president said that after taking office, he charged the Sports Affairs Council with striving to promote sports for all and also to bolster the nation's foundation in competitive sports. To date, he said, the government has spent NT$2.4 billion on improving various athletic facilities. President Ma commented that the government has completed the Statute for Issuance of Sports Lottery and the Statute for Sports Industries Development. The legislation by the Legislative Yuan helps to funnel more resources and funds into athletics, thereby improving the climate for athletic development here, he said. At the same time, the government has plans to construct 50 sports centers and 20 sports parks throughout Taiwan, hoping that people of every age will make sports a part of their lives, he added, furthermore stating that this will help to create Taiwan into a "sports island."
Lastly, the president encouraged all the athletes representing the nation to perform to the best of their potential at the upcoming games in an effort to win glory for the nation. He also urged them to conduct themselves both on and off the arena in a manner befitting an advanced nation, helping the ROC to become a nation that is respected by others and that touches other countries.
Among those attending the ceremony were Sports Affairs Council Minister Tai Hsia-ling (戴遐齡), Chinese Taipei Olympic President Thomas W. Tsai (蔡辰威), and Captain of the Chinese Taipei London Olympics team Lin Hong-dow (林鴻道).