Following a presentation Thursday by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on the current state of preparations for the upcoming Asian Games 2018, Premier Lai Ching-te instructed ministries and agencies to attend carefully to behind-the-scenes logistics and support, and spare no effort in assisting athletes and coaches, so that competitors will be able to focus without distraction on delivering an excellent performance and winning glory for the nation.
Taiwan's delegation to the competition, opening on August 18 in Indonesia, is the largest that the nation has ever sent, both in terms of the number of people and range of events in which athletes will compete. The games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang and run until September 2.
Athletic competitions have always served as the perfect stage for drawing the people of Taiwan together, and instilling a spirit of confidence and common cause to build a shared society. The outstanding record of Taiwan's athletes at the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade underscored their resolve and energy in the quest to triumph, and inspired both excitement and pride. That exhilaration lingers even today, said Premier Lai.
Thanking the athletes and coaches on behalf of the Executive Yuan for all the hard work dedicated to training, the premier offered his best wishes for a resounding victory that will once again demonstrate to the international community Taiwan's determination and athletic prowess.
The MOE indicated that the Asian Games 2018 feature 40 official sports and two demonstration events. With 588 athletes, 150 coaches and staff, and 41 medical personnel, Taiwan's delegation is the nation's largest in the history of the games. The team heads to Indonesia with the goal of bringing home more medals than were won at the last Asian Games, held in Incheon, South Korea in 2014.