The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), yesterday pledged to bid to host the 2038 Asian Games as part of a number of sports-related policies he would implement if elected in January.
While visiting a New Taipei City-based baseball school, Hou said that he would ask the local and central governments to join forces in a bid to host the Games.
Hou said he would talk with city and county government leaders to coordinate the building or renovation of sports facilities in preparation for the bid.
Photo: CNA
The Asian Games are a quadrennial event recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
The most recent Asian Games were held in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.
Hou also proposed upgrading the Taiwan Institute of Sports Science, which is part of the National Sports Training Center in Kaohsiung.
The upgraded institute would incorporate artificial intelligence and smart technology to promote the transformation and globalization of Taiwan’s sports industry, he said.
New Taipei City has 16 sports centers, the most among Taiwan’s administrative regions, Hou said.
Some administrative regions lack the facilities needed to promote healthy lifestyles among their citizens, he said.
Hou said, if elected, he would ensure there is at least one public sports center per 300,000 residents.
Under these guidelines, Tainan and Kaohsiung would each get five additional sports centers, while Changhua would get two, Hou said.
The National Sports Act (國民體育法) stipulates that government-run sports facilities “should be open to the public free of charge on National Sports Day” on Sept. 9, he said.
He proposed expanding free entry to public sports facilities to once a week.
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