TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) presented Taiwan's Olympic flag to the island's Asian Games delegation on Tuesday (Sept. 8), pledging the government would be their "strongest backing." The ceremony marked the formal send-off for 482 athletes competing in 34 sports at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 opening Sept. 19.
"This stage belongs to you," Lai told the athletes at the National Sports Training Center (國家運動訓練中心) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan's elite athletic training hub since 1976. "Believe in yourself, go all out, and give it everything you have."
The president deliberately avoided setting medal targets for the Games, which run through Oct. 4 in Japan's Aichi Prefecture. "I will not set how many gold, silver or bronze medals we must win at this Asian Games," Lai said.
Taiwan's 744-member delegation, including coaches, medical staff and support personnel, is the island's largest contingent for an Asian Games in recent memory. To transport the group, China Airlines (華航) will operate seven Boeing 777 flights between Sept. 17 and Oct. 5.
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋), a two-time Olympic gold medalist in badminton who won gold at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, led the logistical preparations. In a ceremonial flag-passing, Lai presented the Olympic flag and delegation banner to Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee President Tsai Chia-fu (蔡家福) and chief manager Liao Yu-hui (廖裕輝).
At the ceremony, Lai also presented a NT$300,000 (around US$9,500) bonus for team meals and distributed "Victory Omamori" good-luck charms. Breakdancer Yang Chia-li (楊加力) and badminton star Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) received the gifts on behalf of the team.
Taiwan enters the Games seeking to build on its 2023 Hangzhou result: 19 gold, 20 silver and 28 bronze medals for sixth overall.
Medal hopes rest on gymnast Lee Chih-kai (李智凱), seeking an unprecedented third consecutive pommel horse gold, and boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷), the Paris 2024 Olympic champion. Fellow Paris medalists Chen Nien-chin (陳念琴) and Huang Hsiao-wen (黃筱雯) will also compete.
Chen said she has been training with fellow Olympian Wu Shih-yi (吳詩儀), who missed selection due to weight class changes. "We trust each other deeply and can honestly point out each other's weaknesses," Chen said.
The baseball team finalized its 24-man roster Sunday after pitcher Gu Lin Ruei-yang (古林睿煬) withdrew due to an oblique strain. Taiwan's squad is targeting its first gold in 20 years, opening Group B play against South Korea on Sept. 21.
The Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks Japan's third time hosting, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.69)