TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Olympic badminton champion Lee Yang (李洋) made history Tuesday (Sept. 9) by becoming Taiwan's youngest-ever Cabinet minister when Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) appointed him as sports minister during National Sports Day ceremonies. The 30-year-old gold medalist's appointment marks a groundbreaking moment as Taiwan places an active Olympic champion directly into government leadership. Lee's transition from international athletic competition to ministerial responsibility represents an unprecedented move in Taiwan's political landscape.
Lee emphasized his distinctive insight into athletes' struggles while outlining comprehensive sports initiatives requiring systematic infrastructure development across Taiwan. The new minister aims to strengthen grassroots sports facilities through six strategic policy objectives. These ambitious goals encompass nationwide sports implementation, competitive development resource integration, international events promotion, athletic industry growth advocacy, sustainability and diversity practices, and comprehensive investment in youth and grassroots athletic development programs.
The new sports minister envisions transforming the Ministry of Sport into a central coordination hub for competitive athletics while strengthening collaboration with Taiwan's National Training Center. Lee emphasized the critical need for balancing student-athletes' academic pursuits with their sporting careers, drawing from his personal experience. The Olympic champion expressed determination to elevate Taiwan's international profile through hosting major sporting events and enhancing the island's global athletic presence.
Lee characterized athletics as an essential platform for demonstrating Taiwan's national strength while advocating for robust government-private sector partnerships to accelerate sports industry commercial expansion. The youngest-ever Cabinet minister pledged to maintain competitive sporting integrity and achieve unprecedented milestones alongside his ministerial team. Lee concluded by expressing profound gratitude to Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and the Taiwanese people for their trust and support. ◼