Thursday, August 24, 2006

TAIPEI MAYORAL CANDIDATE DREAMS OF 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES IN TAIPEI

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Frank Hsieh claimed in a seminar Monday that there is "no way" Taipei cannot host the 2020 Olympic Games.

However, he then said the road to a successful bid will not be easy, and that it is highly possible that Taipei might fail. But "the last thing Taipei city needs right now is defeatism and pessimism, " Hsieh said, adding that a successful leader is the one who has vision and the ability to lead people.

In a forum titled "2020 in Taipei," Hsieh said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is expected to decide on a host city for the 2020 Olympic Games in 2013, seven years before the games take place. Bidding cities will have to submit applications in 2011. Therefore, a country should decide in 2009 or 2010 as to which city will represent it.

History shows that many host cities have been reborn and changed because of the Olympics, Hsieh said. Since it takes the cooperation and resources of central and local governments to organize the games, organization will facilitate urban redevelopment. Tourism and employment also benefit, he said.

But the most important advantage will be national pride, according to Hsieh. Regardless of whether Taiwan wins the bid, the bidding process will be able to "bond the whole nation together for one big task" and create national identity, he claimed.

"It took Beijing three tries before winning the 2008 bid. Everything is possible, " Hsieh said.

He also said that 2009 will be an important year for Taiwan, as it will host the Deaflympics in Taipei and the World Games in Kaohsiung. If both competitions are successful, Hsieh said, it will help Taiwan in the Olympic Games bidding process.

Bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games has been one of Hsieh's most important initiatives in his mayoral campaign so far. Hsieh had challenged his opposition Kuomintang (KMT) opponent Hau Lung-pin to a public debate on the challenge was rejected.