With the World Games fast approaching, funding for the event is still NT$250 million (US$7.7 million) short, the Kaohsiung Organizing Committee said yesterday.
The committee said in a press release that it had received about NT$599.5 million in funds from the Sports Affairs Council with the help of Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲).
The funds were received as three separate payments, including NT$251 million for sports events and NT$163.5 million to broadcast the Games, the committee said.
However, a gap of NT$250 million remains between the committee’s request for NT$845 million, which was approved by the Legislative Yuan, and the funds granted by the sports council, the committee said. It said it had been trying for seven months to get the full budget from the council.
The Kaohsiung City Government has accused the council of withdrawing its support for the sports event after the council froze most of the committee’s budget in late February.
“Kaohsiung City feels saddened that it has been unable to receive full support from the central government in holding this international event,” the committee said.
“The central government has already slashed the city’s budget for management of the event, maintenance of the sports fields, the opening and closing ceremonies, reception of important guests and promotion of cultural tours [during the Games]. This seriously hampered the progress of the Kaohsiung Organizing Committee’s preparations,” the committee said.
It said it would attempt to secure the needed funds through sponsorship from the private sector.
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