2017 SU: Final Stop of V Part of the LOVE Torch Relay Route

CHANGHUA COUNTY – The Taipei Universiade torch relay is now following a LOVE shaped route as it links 22 counties and cities across Chinese Taipei. The L and O parts of the torch relay were successfully completed. On 2 August, the final (9^th) stop of the V part of the torch relay was held in Changhua County. The county government arranged for local coaches and athletes to pass the torch, representing the passing on of knowledge and experience. The torch was then being carried to famous local attractions.

The torch handover ceremony being held in front of Changhua County Hall

For the leg of the relay in “Green Energy County” Changhua County, Shi-Ming You, Taipei Universiade Organising Committee (TUOC) Deputy CEO and Li-Chu Li, director of the Cultural Affairs Division of Taipei Universiade Organising Committee, led Taipei’s City torchbearer Xin-Yu Lai to attend the torch relay ceremony. Lai was a silver medalist in the women’s basketball at the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade and is also a Changhua County native. Her previous Universiade success and background made her an ideal torch relay representative for Taipei City to take part in the Changhua County relay.   

Zhen Gou Lai, Secretary General of Changhua County Government, as Changhua County’s 1st torchbearer

The relay began at 9 am, started from Changhua County Government. Xin-Yu Lai and Taipei Universiade Organising Committee (TUOC) Deputy CEO Shi-Ming You handed the torch to Changhua County Deputy Magistrate Ming-Yu Lin and the Changhua County relay team. Zhen-Gou Lai, Secretary General of Changhua County Government, coach Yan-Ru Li and athletes Yu-Ru Guo, Yuan-Han Hsu served as torchbearers in succession. The relay started from the county government building, passing through Baguashan Dafuo Scenic Area, known as one of the eight main tourist sights of Changhua, which has a tranquil environment and beautiful views; the relay then passed Baguashan Arch, Changhua Museum of Art and the famous local landmark, the Giant Buddha, and finally ending at the new local landmark, the longest skywalk in Chinese Taipei, Baguashan Skywalk. The relay route in Changhua took in some of the county’s most beautiful scenery. The V part of the relay ended perfectly after Tsui-Fen Chang, Deputy Director of Department of Education of Changhua County Government, handed the torch back to Li-Chu Li, director of the Cultural Affairs Division of Taipei Universiade Organising Committee. 

Yu-Ru Guo carrying the torch and passing through the Baguashan Skywalk

Changhua’s lead torchbearer, outstanding coach Yan-Ru Li, handed the torch to young athletes who show great potential, the passing of the torch from a seasoned and successful athlete/coach symbolizing the passing on of knowledge and experience. Coach Li won a gold medal in the Social Section men’s 4×100 meters and a bronze medal in the 4×400 meters at the National Games in 2009; athlete Yu-Ru Guo was part of a team that came eighth nationally in the 4×400 meter relay and 4×400 meter relay at the National Athletics Tournament in 2016; Yuan-Han Hsu represented Changhua at this year’s National Athletics Tournament. Taken the torch, which represented the passing on of knowledge and experience, from Coach Li, these two athletes, along with all the other young athletes, were expected to take the level of sport in Chinese Taipei to new heights and that Chinese Taipei athletes can do even better than the athletes who have gone before them at Taipei 2017 Universiade.

Li-Chu Li, director of the Cultural Affairs Division of Taipei Universiade Organising Committee, carried the torch back to Taipei City

The torch relay that heralds the imminent start of the games began overseas when the mother flame was lit at a ceremony in Turin, Italy on June 20. After a busy schedule that saw the relay held in four cities in three countries over 10 days, the first leg of the Chinese Taipei torch relay, in which the sacred flame was carried to the peak of Taipei’s highest mountain Mt. Jade The torch relay is now following a LOVE shaped route as it links 22 counties and cities across Chinese Taipei. The L and O parts of the LOVE shaped route have been completed, encompassing three and four cities/counties, respectively, the V part of the LOVE shaped torch relay route has now been completed. The first stop of the next and final part, the E part, will be held in Hsinchu County on 4 August, continuing to convey the passion and spirit of the Universiade.

(Source: OC Taipei 2017)