TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Department of Sports (台北市體育局) defended the display of Chinese badminton players' posters at the Taipei Zhong-shan Sports Center (台北中山運動中心) on Wednesday (Dec. 4), citing a legal and compliant commercial partnership with an international sports brand. The department emphasized using athlete images to promote sportsmanship is a common practice.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-chun (陳怡君) criticized the center for exclusively featuring Chinese athletes on its badminton court posters, with no Taiwanese players represented. She demanded immediate action from the Taipei City Government to rectify the situation. Chen also accused the current administration of ingratiating itself with China, noting that the posters have been in place since former Mayor Ko Wen-je's (柯文哲) tenure.
Chen questioned Mayor Chiang Wan-an's (蔣萬安) commitment to supporting Taiwanese sports. She highlighted the mayor's unfulfilled proposal to name Taipei streets after Olympic gold medalists Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and Lee Yang (李洋). The Department of Sports reiterated that renowned sports brands often sponsor venues to showcase international sports stars, aiming to inspire athletes worldwide. They urged the public to avoid politicizing sports, stressing that athletics should transcend national and political boundaries.
