TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Nine Taiwanese athletes took part in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony Friday.
The team entered 81st or under “T” in the alphabetical order of entrants and was loudly cheered, per CNA. Due to political pressure from China, Taiwan is referred to as Chinese Taipei at Olympic events.
Team Taiwan was led by figure skater Li Yu-hsiang (李宇翔) in Milan's San Siro Stadium and bobsledder Lin Hsin-jung (林欣蓉) in Cortina. The Games are being held at four Italian venues: Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo.
On her second Winter Olympics outing, Lin reportedly said she was honored and full of joy to be a flag-bearer: “I am happier than at the Olympics four years ago — it feels like I have made up for not participating then.”
Li described the experience as surreal and a special opportunity.
The occasion marked Taiwan's largest winter delegation since 1988 with competitors in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speedskating and bobsled.
Taiwan’s other seven athletes are: substitute Liang Yu-chieh (梁宥婕) and Lin Sung-en (林頌恩), who are making their debuts in the women's bobsled competition; speedskater Chen Ying-chu (陳映竹); alpine skiers Troy Samuel Chang (張天將) and Lee Wen-yi (李玟儀); cross-country skiers Sophia Velicer (余睿) and Lee Chieh-han (李杰翰). Eight coaches and 19 staff complete the squad.
In January when announcing Taiwan’s delegation to the Winter Games, Ministry of Sports Administration Deputy Minister Hung Chih-chang (洪志昌) hailed the athletes’ grit and determination.
Taiwan has participated in every Winter Olympics since 1972 in Japan’s Sapporo, except for the boycotted 1980 Games. It typically fields three to seven athletes, but none have ever medaled. In the Summer Games, however, it has won gold in taekwondo, boxing, badminton and weightlifting.
