Belittling Or Shy?
As it was on news, Mr. Ma Ying-Jiou was introduced and inaugurated the 8th International World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as President of the Republic of China on Thursday night, July 16th. China, though is participating in the Games, but snub the opening ceremony because Mr. Ma inaugurated the event as the head of state. It is reported that The officials of the Games did have consent of China to so introduce Mr. Ma. The allowance is a small token to show some recognition of Mr. Ma’s policy of ” gradual unification” with China. There is a report that originally China would participate in 18 games, but cut down to only 8 now.
When Kaohsiung, Taiwan bid and chosen to host the international games some years ago, China threaten to boycott and blockade. But the 8th World Games has successfully opened with more than expected numbers of countries (105) participating, all people in Taiwan should be glad and bless it’s success. Snubbing of the event by an irrational China is understandable, but behavior of those officials in Ma”s Government and of KMT dignitaries is very questionable. They flocked to the last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, but so far, there is no showing up of them, except Mr. Ma.
Yesterday, there was an article submitted to Liberty Times, the best selling paper here, by a former Ambassador of Taiwan to South Africa, Lu I-Chen, who belittling the Kaohsiung World Games as a “fake”. He described Kaohsiung Games by using a saying, “Hanging goat head up when selling dog meat”. In his terms, the 31 games contested at the event are rejects of the Olympics picked up by the World Games, and that the World Games is like a child of a concubine in old China, never able to lift his up high! In his view, the whole exercise in Kaohsiung is “a waste of people’s money”, and the magnificently built Stadium with solar power generators will soon become a habitat of mosquitoes.
When Kaohsiung successfully bid to host the Games, it was during the DPP Administration. China threaten to blockade it, KMT legistlors attempted to pull Kaohsiung’s legs. Even after Mr. Ma assumed the office of presidency last May, his government has not been cooperative. But Kao-hsiung City worked hard and did the best. Now, it is successfully taking place, but those officials and dignitaries are shy to attend. How insane to belittle the wonderful event, and what a pity to have missed it.
