At today's Cabinet meeting, Premier Mao Chi-kuo lauded Taiwan's national team for winning six gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals at the 2015 Summer Universiade that ended Tuesday in Gwangju, South Korea.
This medal count, which marked the country's best-ever performance at the event, is attributed to the hard training and dedication of the athletes as well as the strong support of ministries and departments, Mao said following the Ministry of Education's (MOE) briefing of Taiwan's performance.
Amid an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome in South Korea, the MOE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare stepped up preventive and protective measures so that Taiwan's athletes could focus on competing, the premier said.
The premier also touted the MOE for its strategic training of young athletes in the compulsory events, which helped the tennis team to its finest showing at the games. He directed the MOE to continue supporting and training the athletes, grooming them for greater glory at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and the 2017 Universiade in Taipei.
The 2017 Universiade, to be hosted by the Taipei City Government, will be the highest-level international sports event held in Taiwan, Premier Mao said. With the country's reputation riding on the success of the event, ministries and departments should extend every support to the Taipei City Government as it makes preparations.
Taiwan sent 236 athletes to Gwangju this month to compete in 16 sports, the MOE said. The 36 medals they earned placed Taiwan seventh in total medal count and 10th in gold medal count, among 143 competing countries and territories. This tally also eclipses the four golds, four silvers and seven bronzes garnered at the 2013 Universiade.