14 athletes break the national record in six disciplines at the 2022 National Middle School Athletic Games in Hualien The Games come to a successful close after handing the flag to the next host Hsinchu County
With the theme “Building dreams at Ola, competing in Hualien”, the 2022 National Middle School Athletic Games came to a successful close in Hualien. In this year’s games, 200 athletes broke the games record in 51 disciplines in 22 sports, and 14 athletes broke the national record in six disciplines. The handover of the games flag was held at Hualien County Indigenous Museum on July 27, 2022. Witnessed by Deputy Director-General of the Sports Administration Hung Chih-chang, Deputy Magistrate of Hualien County Government Yen Hsin-chang handed the flag to Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke in a warm and moving scene that also represented a perfect end to the 2022 National Middle School Athletic Games in Hualien.
Hualien County Government diligently planned and executed the 2022 National Middle School Athletic Games. The games this time had around 18,000 participants and involved 22 sports. The worsening pandemic situation in mid-April led to some sports being delayed. As well as the restoration of some venues that had been prepared for competition when the sports were delayed. Hualien County Government had a difficult mission to handle follow-up personnel transport, food and accommodation arrangements, at the same time six sports completed competition. Moreover, a plan for the resumption of competition had to be put forward in the shortest possible time. The period the games was held lasted five months from the qualifiers on March 9 to 27; this year’s games had the most participants, the most sports and lasted longer than any previous National Middle School Athletic Games.
Deputy Director-General of the Sports Administration Hung said this year’s National Middle School Athletic Games was able to resume due to the all-out efforts of Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei and the National Middle School Athletic Games in Hualien team, he gave them special thanks. While implementing various pandemic prevention measures for venues, the best venues and best and most attentive service were provided, allowing all staff to complete their mission and the games to be smoothly completed.
Due to the COVID pandemic, 15 sports were delayed until July and were resumed in three stages. Hualien County Government adopted the highest specification pandemic prevention measures to allow all the resumed competitions to be completed, overcoming both the pandemic and the summer heat. Adjusting the competition time gave every young athlete a stage on which to show their ability and allowed many records to be set. Holding the 2022 National Middle School Athletic Games was also used to promote sport in the county and central government subsidies used to improve local sports venues.
In the handover ceremony, the flag for the 2022 games was handed to the next host unit Hsinchu County Government by Deputy Director-General of the Sports Administration Hung, representing the passing on of the splendor, excellence and brilliance of the National Middle School Athletic Games in Hualien. The team led by Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang accepted the games flag. A dance troupe from Hsinchu County elementary schools, Tou Qian, then gave a highly skilled performance with the theme “Tou Qian’s Culture·Technology·Smart City” adding color to the handover ceremony.
Finally, amidst music, laughter and the countdown of the guests and athletes, the 2022 National Middle School Athletic Games in Hualien came to a successful end and closing the curtain on the spirit of the games this time “Building dreams at Ola, competing in Hualien”.