In August, Taiwan dispatched its largest-ever delegation to the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Totaling 588 athletes across 38 disciplines, this group of skilled sportspeople made the country proud, returning home early the following month with an impressive haul of 67 medals. This tally marked Taiwan’s best performance at the event for two decades and placed it seventh among the 45 participating countries and territories.

Receiving members of the delegation at the Office of the President Sept. 4 in Taipei City, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said that through their dedication and sportsmanship, the athletes had shown the world the true spirit of Taiwan. Their achievements brought glory to the nation and raised its profile on the global stage, she added.

The scale of Taiwan’s contingent at the tournament in Indonesia underscores committed government efforts to boost the country’s image and foster international exchanges through sports diplomacy. Athletic triumphs are a powerful method of grabbing global headlines. Yet the true benefits of this diplomatic approach lie beyond medals and media reports. They are found in the camaraderie and understanding instilled in fellow participants and viewing audiences long after the closing ceremony.

Recognizing that effective sports diplomacy requires top-class talents, the government is stepping up efforts to provide the nation’s leading competitors with the support they need to excel. Taiwan’s sports budget is expected to reach NT$13.3 billion (US$431.8 million) this year, an increase of 38.5 percent since Tsai took office in 2016. This backing is also evinced by an ongoing expansion program at the National Sports Training Center (NSTC) in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City, the country’s foremost hub for the selection and development of elite athletes and coaches.

Launched in August 2017, the two-year, NT$1.37 billion (US$44.5 million) project is transforming older structures at the complex into modern sports medicine and science facilities. A new building with living quarters, an equipment room, recreation space and restaurant is also under construction to provide national team members with home comforts so they can focus on hitting peak performance.

To ensure that the training needs of the nation’s athletes are being met, the government has appointed Taiwan’s leading sporting light, Asian Games gold medalist and women’s badminton world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying (戴資穎), to the board of the NSTC. Staunch state support is further illustrated by generous incentive schemes for standout performers. Medal winners at the 2018 games were awarded up to NT$3 million (US$97,400), while podium finishers at next year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo can expect to receive between NT$5 million (US$162,340) and NT$20 million (US$649,350).

In addition to sending sizable contingents of well trained and highly motivated athletes to global contests, Taiwan regularly hosts large-scale international competitions. The government has worked particularly hard to build bridges between local youths and their counterparts from around the world by organizing such events as the Taipei Summer Universiade, also known as the World University Games, and World Junior Figure Skating Championships, both in 2017. Taiwan is also the location of the biennial U-12 Baseball World Cup, with the southern city of Tainan scheduled to continue staging the tournament through 2027.

Sport transcends language, political and socio-economic differences. It serves as a platform for Taiwan to spotlight its achievements and steadfast commitment to the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights. Through sports diplomacy, Taiwan can demonstrate that it is the perfect teammate in the global arena.

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