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2009 World Games in Taiwan
July 16-26, 2009 in Kaohsiung City
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In July of 2004 the IWGA announced the site of the 2009 World Games.
JULY 1, 2004 - The International World Games Association (IWGA)
selects Kaohsiung City -
Chinese Taipei’s second largest metropolis behind the capital -
to host The World Games 2009.
Mayor Frank Hsieh and IWGA President Ron Froehlich sign
the contract to have the eighth edition of the elite multi-sport event
held between July 16 and 26, 2009, at existing venues in Kaohsiung City,
Kaohsiung County and adjacent Pingtung County.
The award of The World Games
2009 to Kaohsiung City - located in the southwestern part of the
island - brings the lengthy bid evaluation process to a successful
conclusion. IWGA President Ron Froehlich and IWGA SecretaryGeneral
Co Koren inspected the city in November 2003. They reported to the
IWGA Annual General Meeting - in May 2004 - and were mandated by
the 32International Sports Federations making up the association
to finalize the contractual agreement with the Kaohsiung City
government.
From the outset, the city’s replies to the 16-part
questionnaire - which the Candidature Committee provided in the
2009 Kaohsiung Bid Book - were deemed satisfactory in ever respect
by the IWGA. The venue inspections confirmed that Kaohsiung and
its surrounding areas can count on theinfrastructure to stage
The World Games involving upwards of 30 sports and 3,000 athletes
- without needing to invest in additional construction. The
preliminary financial planning for hosting the multi-sport event
in Kaohsiung atthe highest level was considered sound, with the
projections for expenditureand revenue judged realistic by every
standard, and with the centralgovernment guaranteeing to underwrite
any deficit arising from successfulgames in 2009.
The extensive
institutional support pledged to 2009 Kaohsiung was backed up by
more than two decades of active assistance - on the national
level - which was provided jointly by the National Council of
Physical Fitness and Sports andthe Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee
to the 30+ IWGA sports. Since 1981 Santa Clara, the Chinese Taipei
Olympic Committee sanctions and supports the participation of its
delegations to the quadrennial World Games, funding the athletes’
training, subsistence and travel. Chinese Taipei’s extensive support
programs to sports in general, and particularly to those beyond the
35 carryingthe label ‘Olympic’, have been considered exemplary in
the past.
What drew out the process of awarding The World Games 2009 to
KaohsiungCity - almost despite the latter submitting an impeccable
bid to the IWGA - were the frequently strained relations between
the People’s Republic of China (CHN) and Chinese Taipei (TPE)!
Although exchanges between CHN and TPE in matters concerning
sports are an established and straightforward practice ever since
1992, a clause in the host city contract requires the 2009
KaohsiungOrganizing Committee’s strict adherence to the 1979
Nagoya Resolution as wellas the agreement signed between the
International Olympic Committee and the Chinese Taipei Olympic
Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 24, 1981. They
establish the formula which governs issues ranging from the host
country’s official name (Chinese Taipei - with the acronym TPE)
to the precise protocol for the conduct of The World Games 2009.
From Taipei City - the capital and seat of the national government
- President Chen Shui-bian hailed Kaohsiung's success in winning
the right to host TheWorld Games 2009, saying they will contribute
to Chinese Taipei's drive to playan active role in world sports.
"This is encouraging news for us," Chen said. "We are excited and
grateful forbeing able to host the prestigious multi-sports event
in 2009." On behalf of the more than 22 million people living on the
island, Chenextended heartfelt thanks to the IWGA and to the IOC,
under whose patronageThe World Games are held, and whose formula
allowed for their protocolaryconduct to be agreed upon by organizers
and sanctioning body.
Noting that international sporting events can
provide an excellent platform forforging friendships and promoting
world peace, President Chen said bilateraland multilateral athletic
exchanges should transcend political barriers.
"We are very pleased
to host the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung and the 2009 Deaflympics in
Taipei City. We cherish these opportunities and will makeevery
possible effort to ensure that the events proceed smoothly," Chen
assured the IWGA President and Secretary General upon receiving them
at the presidential palace.
The IWGA sincerely hopes that The World
Games 2009 Kaohsiung, as well as the Beijing 2008 Olympics, will
help to further improve all aspects of the cross-Strait relations.
IWGA President Ron Froehlich informed the IOC President, Dr. Jacques
Rogge, in a personal letter of the signing of the contract with
Kaohsiung City, reporting "all the stakeholders committed to making
sure that the 2009 World Games edition is going to be a true sporting
event for the benefit of the IWGA sports and their athletes".
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