President Chen Shui-bian attended the opening ceremony of the 13th Asian Squash Championship on February 20, welcoming more than one hundred players from twelve Asian countries to compete in the championship.
Taiwan joined the World Squash Federation as a member in 1995. Over the past decade, squash has become one of the most potential and popular sports on the island. The fact that Taiwan was privileged to host the 13th Asian Squash Championship proved that the country's endeavor in promoting the sport has been recognized by the Asian Squash Federation and its members, the president said.
"We play squash in a closed room surrounded by four walls, and the key to success is to transform the limited space to unlimited possibilities," the president said and associated the sport with Taiwan's condition. "Taiwan is surrounded by four seas; though having experienced countless difficulties, the country has finally achieved many surprises in the world." Referring to the "Taipei 101" as an exemplary case, the president hoped that during the guest players' stay in Taiwan, they would witness Taiwan's achievements and share the pride with local citizens.
The president reminded the guest players that squash was to be an official competition event in the 2009 World Games, to be held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Considering the championship a warm-up for the competition three years later, the president encouraged all the players to challenge themselves, compete for the highest honor, and promote cultural and sport exchanges.
The president also appreciated the resource input from the business sectors. "The government will continue to work with businesses to create unlimited possibilities out of limited resources," said the president.
At the end, the president wished all the guests and players well and a delightful stay in Taiwan.