The East Asian Olympic Committee (EAOC) held an unexpected news conference today (24th) and announced that Taichung City’s right to hold 2019 1st East Asian Olympic Games (EAOG) is revoked. To respond to this, Mayor Chia-Lung Lin said that this decision not only hurt Taichung City and Taiwanese citizens but also harmed all athletes and the Olympic spirit. It is quite brutal to deprive Taichung City’s right to host the game and athletes’ right to partake in the competition through senseless political reasons. It is hoped that the unity of Taiwanese citizens serves to be the support for Taichung City’s striving to discuss with Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee about the follow-up solutions and possible grievance procedure to protect our right.
During the interview today, Mayor Lin said that after receiving the right to host East Asian Youth Games, Taichung City Government has been doing its best and spent more than NT$670 million to construct sites and plan events in compliance with related rules with expected progress. EAOC also visited Taichung City several times to exchange opinions on the preparations for the competition and gave high praise to the preparatory work. Taichung City’s efforts are recognized by the general public.
Mayor Lin said that EAOC’s hurried cancellation of next year’s competition due to political factors has seriously violated the Olympic spirit and relevant regulations of the Olympic game. After receiving the news, Taichung City Government, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, and Sports Administration launched a contingency plan. They all believed that the cancellation of the game not only hurt Taichung City and Taiwanese citizens but also harmed all athletes and the Olympic spirit. Taichung City Government will strive to protect its right and further discuss the follow-up solutions and possible grievance procedure, which aims to express its ground and seek international support.
Mayor Lin also pointed out that to host East Asian Youth Games, Taichung City Government invested resources with the concept of leasing venues. That is, all constructed venues can be used in the future, and Chaoma Sports Center, North Sports Center, National Taiwan University of Sport’s track and field, and Aofong Mountain Sports Park’s Velodrome are examples. How to deal with these venues will be reviewed according to the situation.
However, the greatest harm is to revoke Taichung City’s right to host the game and deprive athletes’ right to partake in the competition. Applying political power to intervene in sports is against the Olympic spirit, and it is brutal to cancel a huge sports event unexpectedly due to senseless political factors. It is hoped that all Taiwanese citizens’ unity will become a great support for Taichung City Government that is planning to engage in further conversation with Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee for possible solutions and possible grievance procedure to fight for our rights.