EvalCom 2015 SU in Taipei City – Day 1

The FISU Delegates with the President of Chinese Taipei Ma Ying-jeou

 The Evaluation Committee for the cities bidding to host the 2015 Summer Universiade (Taipei City, Gwangju & Edmonton) started its visiting tour of the candidates with Taipei City, Chinese Taipei. EvalCom 2015 SU is composed of FISU Vice-Presidents Stefan Bergh (Chair) and Luciano Cabral, 1st Assessor Michael Ralehte Malumbete and Assessors Kemal Tamer and Isato Igarashi as well as FISU Media Representative Christian Pierre. The FISU delegates arrived in Taipei City on April 2nd and today, April 3rd they had their first day of the three-day evaluation visit.

The first working day started with a general introduction of the Taipei Bid by its bidding committee presided by the Mayor of Taipei City Mr. Lung-Bin Hau at the Municipal Government building.

Then the EvalCom headed to the Presidential building where they were welcomed by the President of Chinese Taipei, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou. ‘With its dynamic blend of modernity and tradition, Taipei would be a fantastic venue for the Universiade’, the President told the FISU delegates. ‘Taipei offers excellent facilities which are well suited for the needs of an international sports event such as the Universiade. Be assured, when the 2015 Games are attributed to Taipei City, the OC will receive the full support of the national government’, the President added. President Ma, a triathlon athlete himself, is a big promoter of sports in Taipei. In his capacity of Taipei City Mayor he remodeled sport in the island’s capital. ‘It is of the utmost importance to meet with the highest authorities of the country of a bidding city’, EvalCom Chair Stefan Bergh told the Chinese Taipei President. ‘It gives us great confidence when we learn that the entire country and its political powers are behind the bid.’

Taipei ArenaAfter the encounter with the nation’s President, the FISU delegates visited the Taipei Arena, Chinese Taipei’s first international multi-purpose indoor stadium designed to support different types of events: athletic competitions, large assemblies, and performing arts and concerts. The Arena comprises a main hall with a total seating capacity of 12,523, 19 dressing rooms, 48 VIP rooms, office space, a media room, an Olympic size ice rink for ice hockey and other ice sports and a docking area. The venue will host the table tennis competition of the 2015 SU.

Then the FISU delegates had lunch with Mr. Liu Chao-shiuan, the Premier of Chinese Taipei. ‘On behalf of the Government I sincerely welcome you in Taipei City’, the Premier welcomed the EvalCom. ‘I express the full support of the Government for the 2015 Bid, we all share the universality of sport which is important in human development: discipline, team work, honor and duty. Taking part in such an international event is important for our youth. They will become more appreciative of these values which will enhance world peace. Taipei City is a modern metropolis which has great expertise in hosting sporting events. This year we will host the 21st Deaflympics and in Kaoshiung we will host the World Games’, the Premier added.

After lunch the party visited the construction grounds for the Taipei Dome, an indoor stadium with a seating capacity for 40,000 that can be used for sports, entertainment and exhibitions.

TPEC: the construction site for the swimming and diving centerNext stop was the Taipei Physical Education College, where Mr. Kunning Chen, President of the College and President of the Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation welcomed the delegates and gave an overview of the construction works in progress to enhance his institute and which will host gymnastics (3,500 seats), fencing (1,500 seats), swimming and diving (2,500 seats) if the 2015 Games are attributed to Taipei City.

One of the sports halls of the Chinese Culture UniversityFrom there the delegates traveled to the Chinese Culture University, which will host the volleyball competition. The sports building of the CCU is a 8-storey high building comprising a swimming pool, numerous halls for ball sports and an indoor running track for warming-up.

The first day ended with a short visit of the Taipei Municipal Baseball stadium.

EvalCom 2015 SU Chair Stefan Bergh presents President Ma a FISU gift

Stefan Bergh presents a FISU gift to Premier Liu

Stefan Bergh and Mayor Hau exchange gifts

CTUSF President Kunning Chen explains the sports lay-out of his institute to the FISU delegates

CCU indoor swimming pool for training