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Kaohsiung wants Olympic athletes protected from mosquito bites

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Kaohsiung wants Olympic athletes protected from mosquito bites

Kaohsiung wants Olympic athletes protected

With the Rio 2016 Olympics only 16 days away, Kaohsiung City Government officials visited the city’s eight athletes training for the Olympics at the National Sports Training Center (NSTC) in the city’s Zuoying District on Wednesday, saying that the city will make sure mosquito repellent and mosquito nets are provided in light of the prevalent dengue and Zika epidemics in Brazil.

Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Chen Chin-de said during the visit that Brazil is a hot spot in the dengue fever outbreak, with nearly a million cases at the moment. Kaohsiung City understands the seriousness of the dengue epidemic and has asked the authorities to provide sufficient mosquito repellent and mosquito nets to protect the health of the athletes.

In addition to the dengue epidemic, mosquitoes can also spread Zika virus, posing a risk for birth defects, Chen said.

Kaohsiung City Government has also offered prize money to encourage the athletes to do their best in the Olympics, with NT$720,000 (US$22,500), NT$420,000 and NT$300,000 for gold, silver and brazen winners, respectively, the city government said.

But that’s not much compared to the country’s Guoguang Sports Medal and Scholarship, which rewards an Olympic gold winner NT$20 million, and NT$40 million if winning a gold medal in athletics, swimming or gymnastics. Olympic silver and brazen winners will be rewarded NT$7 million and NT$5 million each, respectively.

In related news, Taiwan has a total of 59 athletes competing in 18 sporting events in the Rio 2016 Olympics. The 18 sports include shooting, weightlifting, archery, taekwondo, equestrian, athletics, cycling, wrestling, table tennis, gymnastics, rowing, badminton, boxing, judo, tennis, golf and swimming.