The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung

KAOHSIUNG (TPE), FIG Office, July 27, 2009: The eighth World Games in Kaohsiung closed Sunday, ending 11 days of sports competition that drew over 3,000 athletes from some 100 countries. Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu (TPE) declared the World Games closed.

The closing ceremony was a tribute to light, nostalgia and the newer, more modern face of the city. Chen handed over the IWGA flag to Pascual Guerrero, representative of the next World Games host city, Cali, Colombia. International World Games Association (IWGA) President Ron Froehlich (USA) praised Kaohsiung for doing a great job in hosting the Games, calling them the best ever. In his speech, Froehlich thanked the thousands of volunteers who made the Games possible and the athletes for participating in a spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.

Chen gave a special mention to the Kaohsiung mayors and acting mayors who preceded her and who helped make the Games possible, thanking the many people who have supported the sports festival over the past 11 days. Kaohsiung proved that it is capable of organising major multisport competitions. And local residents and fans across Chinese Taipei attended many of the events in greater numbers than anticipated.

Nearly 6,000 athletes, coaches, referees, and related personnel from 103 countries participated in the World Games this year, the most ever recorded in the history of this international multisport event.

In the closing ceremony, a dazzling fireworks display, a colourful multimedia show and animated musical and dance performances exemplified Kaohsiung City's local and cultural characteristics, presenting to the world a cultural Chinese Taipei and a city with passion.

(source: KOC – CNA adopt. FIG)

FIG Vice President Dr Michel Léglise (FRA) and Secretary General André Gueisbuhler expressed their special thanks to the Kaohsiung Organizing Committee (KOC) and congratulated them on the fantastic job they did with the gymnastics events. On behalf of their team, who saw to it that operations ran smoothly in the Kaohsiung Arena and Jhihde Hall, Competition Director Gwo Fong Wey and Project Coordinator Yeh Chi-Fen were awarded with medals by the FIG delegation.

Thank you Kaohsiung! Che che Kaohsiung!