Taichung City Tennis Center, built in accordance with Olympic Game specifications, is the largest tennis center in central Taiwan with complete equipment as well as the scheduled venue for 2019 East Asian Youth Games. The construction of the tennis center has been completed and is at the final inspection stage. Taichung City Mayor, Chia-Lung Lin, today visited the tennis center today (27th ) to review the progress and lamented that the cancellation of East Asian Youth Games deprives not only the rights of Taiwanese athletes but also that of young athletes from 9 countries. We will do our best to fight for the opportunity of young athletes, aged 14 to 18 years old, to participate in the Game during the valuable 4 years of ages.

Today, Mayor Lin, accompanied by Director-General of Taichung City Sports Bureau, Qing-Tang Wang, headed to Taichung City Tennis Center, located at the intersection of Jingxian Road and Taixiang Road in Beitun District, to inspect the progress of the construction. Walking along the outdoor courts to the No. 1 Court that can accommodate 980 spectators, Mayor Lin sat at the Spectators’ Seating and lamented, “It upsets me to look at the courts!” Taichung City Government hopes young athletes can compete in the Game in our home country and keep the medals here, but the once-in-a-life-time opportunity to glorify our home country is deprived. We will work harder to let young athletes have the rights to partake in the Game.

Taichung City Government invested NT$ 320 million to build Taichung City Tennis Center with the specifications of Olympic Games. The Tennis Center, including administrative management service centers, No. 1 Court, and 10 outdoor courts, is the competition venue for East Asian Youth Games. The national tennis community looks forward to this sports event with great expectations.

Mayor Lin pointed out that in order to make Taichung a sports city, Taichung City Government has made many overall plans with the goal of hosting many large-scale sports events, including establishing Sports Bureau as well as constructing and renovating sports venues. It is hoped that athletes can practice in these venues and perform better in the large-scale sports events. In the future, the Tennis Center will also be a Sports Science Center where athletes can have better physical training and professional technical support. The construction of the tennis center will not stop due to external factors.

Mayor Lin mentioned that in terms of international visibility, sports is one of few events that make Taiwan competitive with other countries. The revocation of hosting East Asian Youth Games due to some reasons is an all-aspects oppressive act targeting not to Taichung City, nor is it to East Asian Youth Games, but to Taiwan’s rights to participate in international events. Taichung City Government, Sports Administration, and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee will make every effort to file the claims. At present, the documents for claims have been created and are ready to be filed at any time.

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) also expressed its opinions on Facebook and hoped Taiwan could host another international events after Universiade. Mayor Lin is grateful for AIT’s opinions and hopes to get more support from other countries. The cancellation of East Asian Youth Games not only affect Taiwanese athletes’ rights but also deprives rights of young athletes from 9 countries in a sudden, which is quite brutal.

Mayor Lin appreciates the support of the President, President of the Executive Yuan, all local governments and the general public in all political parties and ethnic groups. Taichung City Government will work hard to let young athletes, aged 14 to 18 years old, to have the right to partake in the competition during their valuable 4 years of ages.

Taichung City Government invested NT$ 320 million to build Taichung City Tennis Center, which is the largest tennis center with the most complete equipment in central Taiwan. The Tennis Center covers an area of 5.2 hectares that are developed through 2 phases. The first phase of the construction covers an area of 2.7 hectares to build administrative management center, No. 1 Court, and 10 outdoor hard courts. The construction is scheduled to complete at the end of 2018 and will be inspected in February 2019. In order to host East Asian Youth Games, the construction has been completed ahead of schedule in April this year and is being inspected at the time being.