Chinese athletes stage boycott as World Games close - 奧運,世大運,亞運討論

原文取自http://0rz.tw/6DDkY

BY earthtimes (是外星人辦的地球時報嗎?)


Taipei - The World Games closed in Kaohsiung on Sunday with China boycotting
the ceremony as expected. Just as they boycotted the opening ceremony to
avoid seeing President Ma Ying-jeou open the games, the 59 Chinese athletes
stayed away from the closing ceremony held at the Main Stadium in Kaohsiung,
south Taiwan.

Split since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, China claims Taiwan is
its breakaway province and does not want Ma to appear at international
events.

But in view of eased tension, the two sides seem to have reached a consensus
to allow Ma to open the games while Chinese players stayed away.

China's boycott did not affect the festival atmosphere of the closing
ceremony which featured songs, dances, firework and the releasing of 200
paper lanterns into the night sky.

Ron Froelich, president of the International World Games Association, thanked
Kaohsiung for hosting the 11-day games and praised the players for their
sportsmanship.

"Before I hand over the flag to Cali, Columbia, host of the 2013 World Games,
I want to make a solemn declaration, that is: The 2009 World Games in
Kaohsiung have been the best games ever," he said.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said that various countries' national flags flying
at the stadium shows that Taiwan is a country of freedom and democracy.

"We want to make friends with the whole world while at the same time
safeguard our dignity," she said. "I urge Taiwanese to unite and fight for
Taiwan's success."

At the entrance to the stadium, some Taiwanese held up placards declaring
"Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China," "Taiwan is an Independent Country."

The World Games, held every four years, feature 30 sports that are not
included in the Olympic Games plus several invitational sports. They include
martial arts, artistic roller skating, life-saving, body building, billiards
and tug-of-war.

Some 4,800 athletes from 105 countries and regions took part in the World
Games in Kaohsiung which began on July 16.

Russia was the most successful country with 47 medals (including 18 gold),
followed by Italy's 41 (17), China's 29 (14), the United States' 26 (13),
Ukraine's 33 (11), France's 38 (10), Taiwan's 24 (8) and Germany's 22 (6).

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