TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Organizers of the World Masters Games (WMG, 世界壯年運動會) reassured participants on Thursday (April 24) that visa processing for over 500 Chinese athletes is underway as the event prepares to host approximately 25,000 competitors. Concerns arose about potential withdrawals due to complicated entry procedures, event registration, and visa information issues.
During a council report, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) faced scrutiny from Councilor Nicole Lin (林珍羽), who criticized the city for not effectively managing registration details. Lin alleged that some athletes experienced unauthorized changes to their registered events and confusion over visa information.
WMG Spokesperson Kuo Yin-lan (郭音蘭) clarified that some athletes did not secure spots because events reached capacity or teams were incomplete. The office notified them via email and offered participation in road races as an alternative. Kuo emphasized that the schedule was published on the official website last Thursday, facilitating athletes' travel and accommodation arrangements.
Addressing allegations of discrepancies between the technical manual's English and Chinese versions, Kuo denied any inconsistencies. She stated that the English version was translated from the Chinese, and any perceived differences could be reported to the executive committee.
