STRONG OBJECTION: Executive Yuan spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka said that the ISU should say for what reasons or under what pressure it decided to relocate the event
Taipei Times
Date: Jul 25, 2019
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠) yesterday said that he has asked the Sports
Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung talks to reporters in Taipei yesterday about the International Skating Union’s decision to transfer October’s Asian Open Figure Skating Classic from Taipei to Dongguan in China’s Guangdong Province.
Photo: Lin Hsian-yun, Taipei Times
“The nation’s participation in international sporting events has been interfered with by political or other unknown factors. This has affected the development of sports education, as well as the opportunities available for athletes. We should express our strongest objection [to the decision],” Pan said.
It is not the first time that the nation’s right to host a sports event has been terminated without prior notice or legitimate reason. Last year, Taichung lost the right to host the East Asian Youth Games due to the pressure from Beijing.
The Asian Open Figure Skating Classic was scheduled to take place at the Taipei Arena from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 [FULL STORY]
