Open Our Hearts, Welcome Our Guests, Be Good Hosts

Open Our Hearts, Welcome Our Guests, Be Good Hosts
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 16, 2009

The Kaohsiung World Games opened today. Five thousand competitors and visitors from several hundred nations gathered in Kaohsiung. For the Republic of China, this was a rare event. In particular, after endless negotiations, President Ma Ying-jeou confirmed that he would preside over the opening ceremonies in his capacity as head of state. The public would be allowed to bring their own Republic of China national flags and cheer for Republic of China competitors. Citizens of the Republic of China would maintain their dignity on their own home court. These are all things worth celebrating.
Originally the International World Games Association refused to allow President Ma to officiate at the opening ceremonies. It was even rumored that Chang Yu, the PRC government's General Administrator of Sports would officiate, in his capacity as Vice-Chairman of the Olympic Committee. For the public on Taiwan, such an arrangement would have been unacceptable. After several months of negotiations, the International World Games Association, the Republic of China Olympic Committee, and the Kaohsiung Municipal Government arrived at a three sided compromise. The International World Games Association agreed to abandon precedent. Ma Ying-jeou would become the first president to preside over the World Games since they were held for the first time nine years ago. In the past, mayors or ministers chaired the event. One might say that during the current World Games the Republic of China established a new world record.

President Ma presided over the opening ceremonies. Members of the public were allowed to bring their own Republic of China national flags and cheer for the Republic of China team, This constituted a break from the rigid Olympic model, and established a new World Games model. This progress was not merely the fruit of efforts by three parties. It was also the result of goodwill on the part of a fourth party. Beijing did not object to the current arrangements. This was tantamount to an endorsement. In the past, Beijing blocked our appearance in international venues. This often provoked resentment on Taiwan. It provided pro-independence elements with a bully pulpit. This time, amidst an atmosphere of cross-Strait peace, the public on Taiwan witnessed with their own eyes Beijing's increasingly pragmatic approach to the World Games.

Kaohsiung is hosting the World Games. Everything it experienced, from competing for the right to host the event, to its planning and its execution, involved a kind of metamorphosis. Japanese architect Toyo Ito designed the main World Games Stadium to look like a soaring dragon, and enlivened the entire stadium district. Together with the newly completed mass rapid transit system, it has turned Kaohsiung into a new city. By hosting an international sports event, Kaohsiung has enhanced its image as a modern metropolis.

Partisan politics have long divided the island North and South. Hosting the World Games in the city of Kaohsiung, under the auspices of the Republic of China, has encouraged the Democratic Progressive Party, which has long rejected the Republic of China national flag, to treat it as their centerpiece. By inviting President Ma to officiate over the opening ceremony, they deserve commendation for transcending their old patterns as a "single party city." This will help bridge differences between North and South, and between Blue and Green.

Above all, the Kaohsiung Municipal Government has transcended the DPP's Closed Door mentality. In order to promote the World Games, Chen Chu was willing to incur the wrath of her own party. She visited the mainland and communicated with the Beijing authorities. She lobbied incessantly with the International World Games Association. She called for the participation of the Repubic of China president, and the display of the Republic of China national flag. Organizing international sporting events requires a broader outlook than partisan infighting. It requires a more diversified outlook than local machine politics. These represent a quantum leap in her level of tolerance and sense of inclusivity.

Kaohsiung harbor is a gateway to Taiwan. The DPP purports to be a "Nativist" political party. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu is a political figure from the Kaohsiung Incident era. Her background lends her participation in the World Games a special significance. During the opening ceremonies the traditional Chinese demi-god Na Zha entered the arena on a motorcycle. Puppet theater characters greeted the audience. Taiwan greeted the world. The world got a look at Taiwan. The public on Taiwan has long had a provincial worldview. The World Games has helped the public on Taiwan realize that opening one's doors to the world is not easy. One must first open the doors to one's heart.

Highly sensitive political issues such as the use of the Republic of China flag and the Republic of China president have been resolved, Now the question is how to properly fulfill our role as the host. Compared to the highly competitive Olympic Games, the World Games are more like a summer sports festival. The competitive events are lively and full of local color. Because they lack the tense atmosphere of the Olympic Games, competitors can take advantage of the occasion to make friends with each other. Hosting the World Games in Kaohsiung has provided us with an opportunity to promote the Republic of China on the international stage, More importantly it has allowed us to fulfill our role as host. Those who came to compete and those who came to watch were given VIP treatment, winning their friendship. The record breaking expenditure of the World Games, which cost tens of billions of dollars, were not squandered.

The World Games theme song was "I See the World." It symbolizes Kaohsiung's lofty ambitions. Therefore we appeal to the public on Taiwan. Set aside your prejudices. Be a proper host to the World Games. The public on Taiwan may have grievances about the Republic of China national flag and the Republic of China national anthem. The World Games may not be able to address these grievances. But we should at least strive to open the doors to our hearts, and win the friendship of our overseas guests.

打開心門，歡迎嘉賓，做好主人
【聯合報╱社論】
2009.07.16 06:14 am

高雄世運今天揭幕，百國五千選手嘉賓齊聚高雄競技交流，這是台灣罕見的國際盛事。尤其，經過不斷交涉，馬英九總統確定以元首身分宣布開幕，民眾可攜國旗進場加油，台灣人民的主場自尊得以維持，這些都是值得喜悅的事。

先前，世運協會總會一度拒絕由馬總統主持開幕，並傳出可能由中共體育總局副局長于再清以奧會副主席身分擔綱；如此無禮的安排，自然不能被國人接受。經過數月交涉，在世運總會、中華奧會及高雄市府「三方」的協調下，世運總會同意放棄「成規」，馬英九成為世運舉辦九屆以來首位主持開幕的總統（過去皆由市長或部長主持），堪稱台灣為本屆世運打破了第一項紀錄。

由馬總統宣布開幕，到觀眾可攜國旗進場加油，可謂是突破了以往僵硬的「奧會模式」，走出了新的「世運模式」。其間進展，除了「三方」的積極努力，可以想像應當還有「第四方」的善意。北京對目前這些安排迄無負面的反應，這是值得肯定的態度。過去中共在國際場合圍堵我國，往往只能更激起台灣民眾的反感，讓獨派人士有戲可唱；這次，在兩岸融冰的和平氛圍下，北京若對世運採取較務實作法，台灣人民當然都會看在眼裡。

高雄市承辦這次世運，從爭取、籌畫到執行，彷彿經歷了一場昇華蛻變。日本建築師伊東豐雄設計的世運主場館像一條令觀者心情隨之飛騰的巨龍，帶活了整個館區，加上新完工的捷運，煥然一新的市容，藉由主辦這一場國際大賽，使得高雄現代都會的形貌增色不少。

由於政黨政治的撕裂，台灣的南北兩極對立一直難以改善。高雄市主辦這次世運，在凸顯台灣主體性的前提下，使得長期被民進黨冷落的中華民國國旗成為視聽焦點，又積極安排馬總統出席開幕典禮，這種超乎「一黨一市」的格局值得肯定，對弭合南北及藍綠歧見應有一定助益。

最重要的是，高雄市政府走出了民進黨的鎖國封閉思維。陳菊為了行銷世運，甘犯黨內眾怒，登陸與對手多方溝通，並在元首與國旗問題上與世運總會不斷周旋。舉辦國際賽事，需要比政黨內鬥更寬廣的器識，比經營地方都會更多元的視野，這都是胸襟與格局的躍升。

高雄港都是台灣的大門，民進黨嘗自詡為代表本土的政黨，陳菊市長則是美麗島世代的政治人物；這樣的組合，使得此次世運別具意義。當開幕式的三太子神偶騎著電機車進場，霹靂布袋戲向觀眾問好；一種「台灣面對世界／世界看見台灣」的情緒必是油然而生。台灣的「國際觀」一向相當貧弱，透過這次世運會，全體台灣人應會感知：向世界打開大門並不那麼容易，更不容易的是首先要學會向世界打開自己的「心門」。

在國旗及元首與會等高度政治性問題解決之後，回歸正題就是如何善盡主辦城市的地主之誼了。比起競爭激烈的「奧運」，「世運」較像是個全球夏日運動嘉年華，奇巧的競技，充滿生活與地域文化的趣味；正由於不像奧運那麼劍拔弩張，與會者更能藉著競技切磋相互交流友誼。從這個觀點看，高雄主辦這次世運，除了趁機向國際行銷台灣，更重要的是扮演好地主國角色，使來台參賽、觀賽和採訪的友人皆能獲得賓至如歸的接待，並贏得他們的友誼。那麼，這場打破歷屆世運經費紀錄而耗資百億的世運會即不算虛擲。

本屆世運主題曲是「看見全世界」，象徵了高雄渴望展翅飛翔的雄心壯志；那麼，就請全台人民拋棄成見，共同當好世運的主人吧！無論台灣的「旗歌憂鬱症」是否從此可以豁然痊癒，至少大家要努力敞開心門，贏得各路海外嘉賓的友誼。