At the invitation of Student Sport Ireland, Representative Simon S.K. Tu attended the announcement of the Irish team to compete at the 2017 Taipei Universiade at Irish Sport HQ on 24th July 2017. The Honorary Chairperson of Student Sport Ireland; Ms. Carmel Lynch, the CEO of Sport Ireland; Mr. John Treacy, Student Sport Ireland’s Head of Delegation; Ms. Neasa Fahy O'Donnell and representatives from many different universities and countries were in attendance. Representative Tu spoke of the friendship and strong bilateral relations between Taiwan and Ireland and his words were well received by all present.
Approximately 100 people including VIPs, athletes, coaches and university representatives were in attendance at the ceremony. Ms. Lynch first greeted Representative Tu and thanked him for his attendance and support. Over 60 outstanding student athletes will compete for Team Ireland at the 2017 Taipei Universiade in athletics, diving, women's and men's soccer, swimming and other sports. As the world's premier student sport competition, the Irish team have been training hard in preparation and are hoping for a successful Games.
Representative Tu spoke of Taiwan’s free, open and progressive democracy and of how Taipei was well suited to host the Games. He congratulated the athletes on their selection and wished them the very best of luck in the competition. Representative Tu also spoke of bilateral Taiwan-Ireland relations, in particular of the mutual Visa Waiver and Working Holiday agreements. The success of these programs demonstrates the strong progress in relations between Taiwan and Ireland. He also encouraged the students to take advantage of the scholarships provided by the Taipei Representative Office to study and learn Mandarin in Taiwan in the future.
Leader of the delegation, Ms. Fahy O’Donnell remarked that in May of this year, she visited Taiwan to see the preparations for the Games. The Taipei City local government have been working hard to prepare for the event and Ms. Fahy O’Donnell was very satisfied by the progress of work remarking that she hoped for a well-run and successful Games for Ireland.
Representative Tu with Ms. Carmel Lynch (second from right) Honorary Chairperson of Student Sport Ireland, Mr. John Treacy (right) CEO of Sport Ireland and Ms. Neasa Fahy O'Donnell (second left) Student Sport Ireland’s Head of Delegation.
Representative Tu with Ms. Lynch, Mr. Treacy, Ms. Fahy O’Donnell and young athletes from Team Ireland.
Ms. Carmel Lynch; Honorary Chairperson of Student Sport Ireland, provided the welcoming speech at the Announcement Ceremony.
Members of the Irish Team and guests at the Announcement Ceremony
