Stumbling Blocks Faced by World Masters Games Organizers
Critics intensify criticism over preparations for Taipei Games
Let's dish the dirt on the heartache the organizers of the upcoming World Masters Games are facing – just over 6,500 foreign athletes and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have signed up, with a whopping 30,000 expected!
Taipei city councilors are lashing out at the event's organizers due to sudden timing and venue changes, causing scores of participants to bail out. Other issues at the heart of this fiasco include visa delays and political meddling by China, leading many international competitors to ask for refunds.
The games, jointly hosted by Taipei and New Taipei City governments, have been plagued by controversy since plans began in 2020.
City Councilor Lin Yen-feng revealed that new measures implemented by Beijing require Chinese participants to journey through Hong Kong, Macau, or another country just to attend the May Games. Strict checks on permits for Chinese visitors to Taiwan have also hindered participation, as many who already registered will be unable to attend.
A report indicated that approximately 3,000 participants from Taiwan and abroad requested a refund. Lin slammed the organizing committee for a plethora of unfair practices, including neglected publicity campaigns and the absence of timely, updated information.
Taipei City Councilor Yen Juo-fang voiced concerns that many Taiwanese are unaware of the games. At a total cost of NT$1.881 billion (US$57.8 million), sponsor funds were divided among the Taipei City Government, the central government, and the New Taipei City Government.
The goal: to attract a whopping 30,000 participants, half from abroad. However, the last-minute rush for registrations fell far short, with only 6,550 foreign athletes having completed their registration, alongside 19,400 domestic participants, 11,366 of whom reside in Taipei or New Taipei City.
The once-open competition for adults aged 30 and above came with a steep registration fee, set at NT$3,600 for Taiwanese and NT$7,500 for foreigners. This allowed participants to sign up for seven events in three major sporting categories.
Regrettably, city councilors described the hefty fee as an insurmountable obstacle for most potential participants. In their defense, Games spokesperson Kuo Yin-lan cited reasons other than the price for the withdrawal of registrants, including personal schedule changes, injuries, team dissolutions, full events, and venue adjustments.
Sounds like a clusterEff! With a bit of luck and a pinch of hard work, maybe these issues can be tackled and the games can get the footing they deserve. Here's hoping! 🤞🤘
Additional Info:
- Participation in this event wasn't as robust as anticipated, with only 6,550 foreign athletes and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes registered rather than the expected 30,000 participants.
- Sudden timing and venue changes, visa delays, and political interference by China have been cited as reasons for the registered participants to request refunds.
- Neglected publicity campaigns and a lack of timely, updated information have also irked Taipei city councilors, who decry the state of the games' organization.
- The event, originally designed as an open competition for adults aged 30 and above, comes with a steep registration fee, which some city councilors have criticized as a barrier to participation.
- Despite these challenges, games organizers argue that withdrawal of registrants has been due to factors other than the price, such as personal schedule changes, injuries, team dissolutions, full events, and venue adjustments.
- Despite the hefty registration fees, the sudden changes in timing, venues, and political interference by China have led to a surge in requests for refunds among registered participants for the World Masters Games in Taipei.
- The city councilors in Taipei have criticized the organizers of the World Masters Games for neglecting publicity campaigns and not providing timely, updated information, causing general-news and sports controversies surrounding the event.
- With 6,550 foreign athletes and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes registered instead of the expected 30,000, the organizers must address these issues to ensure a successful sports event that meets the required participation numbers and attracts sponsors.
