Our Commitment to World Universiade Games Must Be Kept

Our Commitment to World Universiade Games Must Be Kept
China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
January 26 2015

Executive Summary: The Taipei City Government will hold the the World Universiade games in 2017. But this has provoked prolonged controversy. In fact, the controversy has escalated. The entire event may now be subject to review and revision. But the World Universiade Games is part of the ROC's struggle to cultivate international goodwill and participate in international events. If the original plan involved government waste, it must of course be dealt with. But one must not fail to see the forest for the trees. As hosts, we cannot afford to discredit ourselves by reneging on our commitments.

Full Text Below:

The Taipei City Government will hold the the World Universiade games in 2017. But this has provoked prolonged controversy. In fact, the controversy has escalated. The entire event may now be subject to review and revision. But the World Universiade Games is part of the ROC's struggle to cultivate international goodwill and participate in international events. If the original plan involved government waste, it must of course be dealt with. But one must not fail to see the forest for the trees. As hosts, we cannot afford to discredit ourselves by reneging on our commitments.

Recently Taipei Mayor Wen-Je Ko inspected the World Universiade Games athletes' village in Linkou. He publicly challenged the tangible benefits of spending 20 billion NT for the World Universiade Games. He even declared that "Had I been mayor, I would not have chosen to host the World Universiade Games." The Games Village restaurant will cost 380 million NT. It will be used for 12 days, then demolished. Mayor Ko threw a fit. He suggested that we emulate the 2013 World Universiade in Kazan, Russia, which rented facilities where possible. The Taipei City New Construction Department followed suit. It announced that it favored tents to house the athletes' village restaurant in order to cut costs.

Renting tents would definitely cost less than 380 million NT. But that is hardly the best choice. They should reconsider. Most World Universiade Games restaurants have been set up in tents. But the Spartan, unventilated spaces provoked widespread criticism. Taiwan has a subtropical climate. Summers are already hot as it is. In recent years, global warming and extreme weather conditions frequently mean 37 to 38 degrees Celsius high summer temperatures. Flimsy tents offer little protection from the sun. Prefab corrugated metal buildings are not much better. Air-conditioning must be installed and set on “high” all day.

Moreover, Taiwan often experiences summer afternoon thunderstorms. Typhoons are also likely. Tents as shelters against the rain and wind are totally inappropriate.

The World Universiade Games restaurant must be able to accommodate 3,500 people. In addition to the dining area, it must also accommodate kitchen facilities. Finding so many large tents would be a major challenge. But the most important issue is the climate. The Taipei City Government considered this before deciding to adopt steel framed buildings equipped with ventilation and lighting.

Taipei may have a new mayor. But it still has the same old climate. The summer of 2017 is expected to be a scorcher hit by typhoons. What if high winds overturn the tents?What if players crowded into prefab corrugated metal shelters get heat stroke? Can we allow this new mayor to cut corners without regard for the consequences? Is this not penny wise and pound foolish? Will this not lead to our international disgrace?

The problem of restaurants has not been solved. Yet the Taipei and New Taipei City Construction and Planning Departments are already bickering over the allocation of the athletes' villages once the games have concluded. This was followed by quarrels between the Taipei City Government and Far Glory over the Taipei Dome construction process. Wen-Je Ko is demanding a thorough investigation to determine whether Far Glory is guilty of fraud. He wants to avoid threats from Far Glory. Therefore he has demanded a review to determine whether the project should be canceled or moved elsewhere. This would be a massive change. If it were to comes to pass, the ROC's international reputation would be undermined even more severely.

Funding for the World Universiade Games comes from the taxpayers, from their hard-earned money. Corruption of course cannot be tolerated. Wasteful spending is also intolerable. This is something that both central and local governments must keep in mind. Hosting an international event requires reasonable expenses. Certain amenities and facilities are indispensable. Pinching pennies at the expense of international guests, would undermine our reputation for hospitality. That is no way to treat guests.

Let us return to the original reason for hosting the World Universiade Games. The ROC has long been at a disadvantage. It has been diplomatically isolated and unable to participate in international activities. It has been unable to conduct international exchanges or protect the rights and interests of its people. For the ROC, hosting a major international event such as this is a valuable opportunity. It provides the ROC with global media exposure. It establishes friendships through exchanges. It increases international goodwill and support for the ROC. It improves the ROC's reputation as a host for international activities. It enables young people on Taiwan to participate in international activities, and acquire a more global perspective.

Taipei beat out Brazil in its bid to host the 2017 World Universiade Games. The main reason was that it offered better venues and facilities. This event is considered a "Mini-Olympics." Approximately 12,000 competitors from 160 countries will participate. It is the largest international event ever held by the ROC. Its significance is enormous, It deserves unanimous support from the people as a whole. As the host, we must fulfill out commitments. We must see the event through. Participants must leave with fond memories. They must not leave with negative impressions because their quarters were too shabby, and their hospitality was inadequate. Even threatening to cancel the World Universiade Games is a no-no. Our guests would be disappointed. Our reputation as a host for international events would be damaged. Our chance at hosting future events would be jeopardized. The harm would far exceed any good.

The World Universiade Games controversy requires a more elevated perspective. It is beneficial to the nation's interests. Therefore is must not fall victim to political wrangling over the details. The World Universiade Games offer us a chance to shine. We must not shoot ourselves in the foot. Make this event a success. Everyone will share the glory.

社論－世大運錢要省 承諾不能打折
2015年01月26日 04:10
本報訊

台北市府舉辦2017年世大運引發的爭議，不但衝突話題不斷，還持續延燒擴大，以致於整個規畫方案都面臨重新檢討修正的命運。然而，舉辦世大運，是為了替台灣爭取國際參與及好感，原本的計畫若有浮誇浪費之處，確實必須務實調整，但思考時不能見樹不見林，更不應該讓台灣的承辦誠意與禮數打了大折扣。

日前台北市長柯文哲在視察林口的世大運選手村時，公開質疑台北市花200億元申辦世大運的實質效益，甚至直言，「如果我是市長，我不會辦世大運。」對於花3.8億元蓋的選手村餐廳，要在使用12天後拆除，柯市長也大為光火，並指示向2013年俄羅斯的喀山世大運取經，能租則租。北市府新工處隨即表示，傾向租帳篷來搭建選手村餐廳，以降低成本。

租帳篷的費用必然遠遠低於3.8億元，但這是不是最好的選擇，恐怕還得再仔細想想。過去世大運的餐廳通常都是搭帳篷，不過也因為簡陋且悶不通風頗受詬病。台灣位處亞熱帶，原本夏季就炎熱，近幾年全球暖化及極端氣候頻仍，高達攝氏37、38度的酷熱經常出現，材質單薄的帳篷很難阻隔日曬，即使用鐵皮屋效果都不會太好，得加裝冷氣全日猛開才行。

何況台灣的夏天常有午後雷陣雨，也很可能遇上颱風，帳篷的遮風蔽雨效果，絕對難以令人滿意。

同時，世大運規定餐廳要能同時容納3500人，除了用餐區，還要有廚房設施，能不能找到這麼多大型帳篷，也是一大考驗。不過最重要的問題，還是天候。當初台北市府就是考量到這點，才決定採用鋼架建材的通風採光設計。

現在台北市雖然換了市長，可沒換了天氣，2017年的夏天，預料還會是一個酷熱加上陣雨甚至颱風的夏天，萬一風把帳篷掀了頂，或者選手在窄小的鐵皮屋裡熱到中暑，我們這個不管該不該省都拚命剋扣的東道主，豈不因小失大，丟臉丟到國際去了？

餐廳的問題還沒解決，北市與新北市、營建署談選手村賽後的分配又不歡而散，接著北市府和遠雄為了大巨蛋的工程更是吵翻了天，柯文哲為了徹底調查遠雄拿下大巨蛋案是否有弊，避免受遠雄要脅，於是要求評估取消世大運或移師其他地方舉辦的替代方案。這樣的變動更是非同小可，果若成真，對台灣的國際聲譽恐怕損多益少。

世大運的經費來自納稅人的血汗錢，當然不能允許任何貪瀆行為，無端的浪費支出也必須嚴格刪減，這是中央與地方政府承辦任何活動時都應該遵循的原則。但要舉辦國際活動，畢竟需要有合理的開支，接待國際友人，也必須提供必要的禮遇與生活便利，省錢省到了客人身上，實在有違台灣熱情好客之美名，也不是待客之道。

讓我們回到申辦世大運的初衷。台灣長期處於外交孤立劣勢，失去很多參與國際活動、交流國際事務並保護國人權益的舞台，能夠爭取到舉辦大型國際活動，對台灣來說，是非常難能可貴的機會。既能讓台灣在全球媒體上大量曝光，藉著活動交流建立友誼，提升國際間對台灣的好感與支持，也累積台灣舉辦國際活動的聲譽，還能讓參與的台灣年輕人有國際活動的歷練，打開全球性視野。

當初台北能打敗巴西取得2017世大運的主辦權，是因為較佳的財務評估與場館設施。估計這場有「小奧運」之稱的盛會，將有160國12000名選手參加，是台灣舉辦過的最大規模國際賽事，意義相當重大，也應該得到國人的共同支持。作為東道主，我們應該以完善履行申辦承諾、成功完成活動、讓參與者留下美好回憶為優先，如果因為過於剋扣寒酸，以致提供的服務怠慢簡陋，甚至揚言放棄舉辦，不但讓世大運的客人失望，復損傷台灣主辦國際活動的聲譽，影響未來爭取其他活動的機會，可就得不償失了。

對於世大運的爭議，大家應該拉高視野來看，整體而言，它對國家利益有正面意義，那麼就不應拘泥在小枝小節與政治角力中。世大運將是我們可以努力發揮的機會，不要自己絆住自己的腳，能夠讓這場盛會圓滿成功，相信全體國人都將同感光榮。