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2009 Kaohsiung: The Award
On June 14, 2004, the International World Games Association appointed Kaohsiung City – Taiwan’s second largest metropolis behind the capital Taipei – as the host to The World Games 2009. Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh and IWGA President Ron Froehlich signed the contract to have the eighth edition of the elite multi-sport games staged between July 16 and 26, 2009, at different 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 – brought the long bid evaluation process to a successful conclusion.
From the outset, the city’s replies to the questionnaire – which the Kaohsiung Candidature Committee provided in its impeccable Bid Book – were deemed satisfactory by the IWGA. The inspection of the venues confirmed that Kaohsiung and its surrounding areas can count on the infrastructure to stage The World Games involving upwards of 30 sports and 3,000 athletes. The financial planning was considered sound, with the projections for expenditure and revenue judged realistic, and with the central government guaranteeing to underwrite any deficits arising from staging the games successfully in 2009.
The extensive institutional support pledged to 2009 Kaohsiung was backed up by more than two decades of active assistance which was provided jointly by the National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports and by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee to the 30+ sports of The World Games.
What drew out the process of awarding The World Games 2009 to Kaohsiung City – almost despite the latter submitting a perfect bid to the IWGA – were the frequently strained relations between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan! However, exchanges between the People's Republic and Chinese Taipei are an established and straightforward practice in sports ever since 1992. A clause in the Host City Contract requires the 2009 Kaohsiung Organizing Committee’s strict adherence to the 1979 Nagoya Resolution as well as the agreement signed between the International Olympic Committee and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee in 1981. Between them, they establish the precise formula which governs the protocol for the conduct of The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung.
| Presidential Views on 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 The World Games 2009, saying they will help Taiwan's drive to play an active role in world sports.
“This is encouraging news for us,” Chen said. “We are excited and grateful for being able to host the prestigious multi-sport games in 2009.” On behalf of the more than 22 million people living on the island, Chen extended heartfelt thanks to the IWGA and to the IOC, under whose patronage The World Games are held, and whose formula allowed for their protocolary conduct to be agreed upon by organizers and sanctioning body alike.
Noting that international sporting events can provide an excellent platform for forging friendships and promoting world peace, President Chen said bilateral and multilateral exchanges in sports should transcend political barriers.
“We are very pleased to host The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung and the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei City. We cherish these opportunities and will make every possible effort to ensure that the events proceed smoothly,' Chen assured the IWGA President.
The IWGA 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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