TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei City Government officials revealed Friday (May 16) that the 2025 World Masters Games will launch with a grand opening ceremony Saturday at the recently completed Taipei Dome (台北大巨蛋), the city's largest indoor arena. Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) will represent President Lai at the international sporting event, which attracts thousands of athletes over age 35 from around the globe.
Vice President Hsiao will be joined by tech industry titan Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of semiconductor giant NVIDIA (輝達), who has been selected as the torchbearer representing the "Technology" sector during the ceremony. Officials from the Office of the President (總統府), Taiwan's presidential administration, confirmed that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will be absent from the festivities due to urgent national matters but will issue a formal congratulatory statement expressing his best wishes for the international competition.
President Lai has directed government agencies to provide comprehensive support for infrastructure improvements related to the Games, including allocating national resources and facilitating partnerships between public institutions and private sector organizations to ensure Taipei's success as host city. The international multi-sport event represents a significant opportunity for Taiwan to showcase its modern sporting facilities and organizational capabilities on the global stage. ◼