Political Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education Chang Liao Wan-Chien gave a speech at the 2024 School Sports Beacon of Excellence Award ceremony.

The Sports Administration(SA) held the "2024 School Sports Beacon of Excellence Award Ceremony" on 24 September. A total of 41 organizations, groups and individuals were selected from nominations submitted by various cities and units. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Professor Lin Hua-Wei and Professor Cheng Chih-Fu. Political Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education(MOE) Chang Liao Wan-Chien and Director General Cheng Shih-Chung attended the ceremony in person to present the awards and offer their congratulations. Both officials expressed gratitude to the organizations, teachers, and coaches who have significantly contributed to the long-term development of grassroots school sports.

Political Deputy Minister of MOE Chang Liao Wan-Chien emphasized that the advancement of school sports hinges upon the dedication and unwavering commitment of those at the grassroots level. These efforts form the critical foundation that upholds the standard of our nation's competitive sports and national fitness initiatives. The Deputy Minister also recounted the accomplishments of the two Lifetime Achievement Award recipients: Professor Lin Hua-Wei, the current General Manager of the Fubon Guardians professional baseball team and former President of National Taiwan University of Sport, under whose leadership the university flourished; and Distinguished Professor Cheng Chih-Fu, former Vice President of National Taiwan Normal University, who has devoted his career to administrative initiatives and enhancing physical education. Their devotion to talent development in the sports and academic sectors has enabled the sports spirit to be passed down through the generations.

The Deputy Minister pointed to the success of this year's Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which have sparked widespread enthusiasm across Taiwan. This enthusiasm is a testament to the profound impact of a robust grassroots sports infrastructure. The Deputy Minister also extended his gratitude to this year's recipients of the Dedication to School Sports Award: Professor Hsu Mei-Chich, Tseng Yin-Chu, and Hsu Shu Hui, respectively, for their invaluable contributions to the fields of anti-doping, basketball, and judo. Furthermore, the Deputy Minister noted that on 9 September, National Sports Day, the Executive Yuan convened a consultative meeting on the Ministry of Sports, where committee members from various sectors, including young athletes and sports industry representatives, participated. The recommendations provided at the meeting are expected to be instrumental in shaping the future of Ministry of Sports and advancing national fitness programs.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Lin Hua-Wei expressed profound gratitude to his family, particularly his father, for instilling in him the core value of prioritizing virtue. He dedicated his achievements and honors to his father, expressing his hope that he would be proud of him. In his speech, Distinguished Professor Cheng Chih-Fu thanked those who had supported him throughout his journey and encouraged all award recipients to embody the spirit and values of the Beacon of Excellence Award, allowing the essence of education to bloom.

The awards are categorized into group, individual, and special awards. Group awards include the Outstanding Organization Award and the Outstanding School Award. Individual awards include the Teaching Excellence in School Sports Award, the Excellence in School Sports Activities Award, and the Excellence in Coaching School Sports Award. Special awards include the Dedication to School Sports Award and the Lifetime Achievement in Teaching School Sports Award. A total of 69 applications were submitted this year. After a careful and thorough review process, a total of 41 organizations, groups and individuals were selected to receive this year's School Sports Beacon of Excellence Award.

The SA emphasized that, much like the award's logo, each recipient plays a role in keeping the flame of sports promotion alive at the grassroots level. The SA expressed its gratitude to the teachers, coaches, schools, and institutions that have contributed to the advancement of school sports, and shone a light on the future development of physical education.

School sports are an important part of education. By promoting sports at the grassroots level, we inspire children to participate, cultivate a love for physical activity, and eventually engage in competitive sports training. This ensures that the flame of sports development will burn brightly for generations to come. The advancement of school sports requires the joint efforts of schools, the private sector and the government. Through this ceremony, we aim to publicly recognize and celebrate the commitment of individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution over the long term. We hope to inspire more people to support sports activities and to promote the well-rounded development of school sports at all levels. The stories of all the award winners will be shared on the official Facebook page of the "Ministry of Education Sports Administration School Sports Beacon of Excellence Award ceremony"(https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556987986569).