Representatives of 12 APEC economies come together in Taipei at the 2024 ASPN Round Table Meeting held by the Sports Administration
With APEC approval, the Sports Administration (SA) annually hosts the 2024 ASPN Round Table Meeting through the APEC Sports Policy Network (ASPN) platform. A recent roundtable meeting took place in Taiwan on February 27th, followed by visits to the Taipei Dome and the Organizing Committee of the World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City (WMG2025 OC) on the 28th. Ms. Siti HARLENA Harris Lee, Program Director of the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) of the APEC Secretariat, traveled to Taiwan specifically for the meeting. Representatives from 12 economies, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Chinese Taipei, attended the event. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Department of International Education of the Ministry of Education (MOE) also participated, making it an unprecedentedly large-scale event.
ASPN, launched by Chinese Taipei in 2016, operates under the APEC HRDWG. It invites sports-related departments from APEC economies, international sports organizations, and domestic and foreign scholars and experts to participate. The platform facilitates policy dialogue, case sharing, and the promotion of sports innovation initiatives, enhancing international sports exchanges.
This year's meeting invited representatives from various economies to share examples of sports innovation and branding international sports events. The SA will continue to handle the ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator, offering six-month guidance courses for sports startups and assisting in matching relevant resources. Over the past five years, the SA has conducted 10 accelerator activities, aiding 104 sports innovation teams from over 20 countries and regions, with a cumulative investment exceeding NT$800 million. This year, 46 sports innovation teams applied from 14 countries and regions applied, with 13 teams selected. In terms of international sports events, about 100 events held in Taiwan receive guidance annually. Since 2021, the SA has organized the Sport Event Taiwan Workshop, focusing on "International Sport Event X City Branding" to help organizers understand international trends and use sports events to shape a city’s brand image and promote Taiwan's international profile.
Representatives from the APEC Secretariat and various economies were invited to Taipei for the event. On the 28th, they attended meetings and visited the WMG2025 OC, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Taipei Dome. Additionally, they attended the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships at Taipei Arena. These visits showcased our expertise in hosting international sports events. The representatives were encouraged to assist in promoting the upcoming WMG2025 event, which will be held in Taiwan in May next year. The meetings and diverse visits offered valuable insights for all participants.
