Faster. Higher. Stronger. Taiwan’s contingent of 66 Olympians are heading to Tokyo to show the world what they’re made of. On the eve of their departure, though, these stars of Taiwan’s sporting world took a moment from their training for a presidential honor.
The 2020 Olympics may have been delayed, but Taiwan’s elite athletes never stopped training. The 66 hopefuls headed to Tokyo in just a few days will be competing in 18 different disciplines, including a few, like karate and canoeing, that Taiwan is taking part in at the Olympics for the first time.
Perhaps no one is rooting harder for Team Taiwan than President Tsai Ing-wen, who held a virtual pep rally for the athletes Monday at the National Sports Training Center. Flanked by badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying and gymnastics superstar Lee Chih-kai, the president handed over the Olympic flag and a gift of money to the team.
You may not recognize Taiwan’s Olympic flag: for political reasons, Taiwan competes under the name Chinese Taipei and uses a special Olympic banner quite different from the national flag. But come the night of the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo, this flag will wave proudly just the same, as Taiwan’s best gear up to show their stuff on a global stage.