Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, East Asian Olympic Committee (EAOC) canceled the hosting right of Taichung for the First East Asian Youth Games in 2019 by the reason of referendum in Taiwan, which had drawn high attention at home and abroad. Today (30th), Lin Chia-Lung, mayor of Taipei City, officially presented the application for restoration to EAOC, and expressed the solemn position to all representatives from member countries and regions synchronously. Mayor Lin said, for the interference of political power into sports, all Taiwan people could not accept. The municipal would not give up, and spared no effort to defend the rights. Besides, we hoped the international society to speak out for Taichung, to realize the promise with the world together.

Accompanied by Wang Ching-Tang, director of Municipal Sport Bureau, Wu Chi-Sheng, director of Legislative Bureau, Chuo Kuan-T'ing, director of Information Office, Major Lin held the international press conference in NTUH International Convention Center. With the identity of the senior officer of the hoist city and the chairperson of the preparatory committee of 2019 East Asian Youth Games, mayor Lin officially presented the application for restoration to EAOC, and sent letter to the nine representatives of the member countries and regions of EAOC synchronously.

Mayor Lin stated, EAOC had held the ad hoc meeting of the Council on July 24 to cancel the first East Asian Youth Games that was planned to be held in Taichung. This was a huge blow to all youth players of participating countries and regions including Taiwan. In a very abrupt situation, Taichung was informed about the hurry and rough decision. All people in Taichung and even Taiwan could not understand, and Taichung Municipal Government could not accept it.

He expressed sternly, to defend the participating rights of the players and the spirits of Olympic Games, the Municipal Government of Taichung, the city to host the first East Asian Youth Games, and the Preparatory Committee of East Asian Youth Games, had officially presented the application for restoration to EAOC, asking to continue to host the 2019 East Asian Youth Games. This application had already sent to the 8 countries and regions that were planning to take part in the Games, including Japan, Korea, North Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia, Guam and Mainland China.

Mayor Lin said, the Municipal Government presented the application to EAOC with four reasons. Firstly, the spirits the Olympics advocates and adheres to are to encourage sportsmen from different countries and regions around the world, and to communicate in fair competition. However, EAOC's sudden cancellation of East Asian Youth Games to be held in Taichung City not only violated the Olympic spirits, but breached the objective of "popularizing the Olympic Games of East Asian" clearly made in constitution of EAOC.

Secondly, before the decision of canceling the 2019 East Asian Youth Games made on July 24, the EAOC Council did not officially inform the hosting city, Taichung City, about whether there was any violation or in execution of the contract terms or the constitution of East Asian Olympics, or any rowing back on commitments.

Thirdly, in the contract for the hosting city of 2019 first East Asian Youth Games signed on October 24, 2014 between Taichung and EAOC, the Article 24 clearly stipulated that "settle the disputes in harmonious negotiation". However, the special meeting on July 24 this year did not give the hosting municipal government any chances for explanation or debate. Before the decision, the municipal government had not been invited for any negotiation.

Finally, in the letter sent by EAOC on July 25 informing the municipal government and the preparatory committee to cancel to the East Asian Youth Games, it was silent about the reasons for the decision. Especially, as soon as EAOC made the decision, Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in Mainland China issued the disclosure statement, declaring that the reason for EAOC to cancel East Asian Youth Game in next year was that parts of public figures in Taiwan initiated the referendum for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which confessed that the cancellation was based on the political factors.

Mayor Lin said, all Taiwan people could not accept that the political power interfered the sports and impeded the hosting of the Games. In addition, the preparatory team of the Games had been sparing no effort for it in recent years. The investment in stadium construction and competition planning had reached NTD 676 million and 726 thousand. All the preparation conformed to the expected progress, and had obtained EAOC's affirmation. What's more, this is a perfect opportunity for the excellent young players in East Asian to communicate and exchange with each other. It is also a sport meeting expected both by Taichung people and Taiwan people. All kinds of efforts and expectations shall be respected rather than be ignored, let along being obliterated by political factors.

Mayor Lin also stressed, the Municipal Government should neither make everyone's efforts go to waste, nor make the expectation of all Taiwan people and young players melt into foam. The Government would protest against the East Asian Olympic Committee, and call on the international society to pay attention to it. We obtest you, the international social friends, to listen to the sound of Taichung, to speak out for Taichung, to realize this promise with the world together, and to defend the sportsmanship believed internationally.