After Opening of the World Games
Today, after the World Games was declared it’s opening by President Ma last night, a team from China finally registered with the Games’ Administration this morning. President Ma, when declaring the “opening”, did not say his official title and so is much criticized in media. Actually he was introduced by the Chairman of the World Games Association as the President of the Republic of China. (Last May when he met with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on his State Visit to Latin America, Ma introduced himself as the President of Taiwan to her.)
The Opening Ceremony cost the City of Kaohsiung NT$170 million last night, as it is reported. But the Opening Ceremony was shunned by China, even a Chinese athletic party was near by. The s main stadium, which architect is Toyo Ito from Japan, alone costs more than NT$5 billion, has 55,000 seats, and is equipped with solar power system ( the world’s first) and shaped like a spirally ascending dragon ( very Chinese, unfortunately). The solar generators can supply lighting and air-conditioning for the stadium, and surpass electricity can be sold to Taiwan Power Company. The artistic surrounding is given much humanistic and environmental consideration and invites much favorable reportage.
The World Games takes after the manner of the Olympics, even though Taiwan is the Host Country, only a substitute flag for Taiwan (as Chinese Taipei) is allowed to be placed among 105 national flags from all over the world. But the Mayor of Kaohsiung City invited openly that she welcomes all kinds of non-official flags that abide the size restriction. There are seen flags in many colours and sizes, of small national flag of the Republic of China (ROC), of Taiwan Independent Movement, of the DPP, those with picture in the shape of Taiwan, or just written “Taiwan”, both in Chinese characters and in English. This is a technical break-through of the ban forced upon Taiwan by China when attending international events. In the past years when there were similar events in Taipei, no flag was allowed to be present other than the substitute flag. In the City of Kaohsiung this time, people are venting their ire and hurt, but also their pride in participation of a world game hosted by the great city, Kaohsiubg, in the Southern Taiwan.