Taipei Gets Ready for Asia's First World Masters Games

TaiwanPlus News

Athletes from more than 100 different countries are coming to Taipei to compete in the World Masters Games, the first time the event has been held in Asia. Two athletes from China have been banned from the games, with the Mainland Affairs Council citing concerns the Chinese nationals would use the event to convey political messages.

Transcript

00:00Here outside Songshan Creative Park in Taipei, athletes are picking up their accreditation

00:05passes ahead of the World Masters Games, officially kicking off tomorrow with a big opening ceremony

00:11at Taipei Dome.

00:13It's expected to be met with fanfare, with Navida CEO Jensen Huang recently announced

00:18as a torchbearer for science and technology.

00:21There has been some recent controversy in the lead up to these games.

00:25Taiwan has denied entry to two Chinese nationals who were signed up to compete.

00:30The Mainland Affairs Council said on Thursday there were concerns they intended to disrupt

00:34the event with political messages.

00:37But it is still expected to be a great games.

00:39Tens of thousands of athletes have signed up, with around 6,000 flying in from across

00:43the globe to compete.

00:45The overseas contestants are representing over 100 countries, putting Taipei firmly on the

00:50world stage.

00:51I'm from Brazil.

00:53I'm here for a group from Brazil, we are from Rio de Janeiro, we are here to swim.

00:57It's such an event, to meet so many people, generally have a very good time.

01:06Athletes will be competing across a wide range of disciplines, with events happening in Taipei

01:11and New Taipei City.

01:12There are 35 sports on the program, the same number as the Summer Olympics, though with a

01:17slightly different line-up, surfing, dancing, canoeing and more.

01:21The event will be officially wrapping up on May 30, expecting to add a positive contribution

01:26to Taiwan's tourism over the next two weeks, and a lasting legacy for the future.

01:32Alex Chen, Sandy Chee and Lauren Pattermore in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

01:36Well…

Category

Transcript

Recommended