President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) delivered the national flag to Taiwan’s delegation for the Asian Games 2026 in Kaohsiung this Tuesday. 

The Asian Games will begin September 19 in Nagoya, Japan, with a total of 482 Taiwanese athletes competing in 34 sports.

The Taiwan Sports Training Center in Kaohsiung held a flag presentation ceremony Tuesday. Lai personally presented the national and team flags to the delegation and wished the athletes a successful start, encouraging them to surpass their own limits and achieve the best results they can.

In a subsequent address, President Lai specifically told the delegation they are “bringing glory to the country on the front lines,” and reminded them the government will strongly support each individual athlete.

Lai also thanked Sports Minister Lee Yang (李洋), underscoring that he believes a two-time Olympic gold medalist understands the needs of every athlete. The ministry and national training center are providing comprehensive logistical support for the Asian Games, including training, nutrition, transportation, rehabilitation, and medical care.

President Lai said, “I won’t set a target number of gold, silver, or bronze medals for this year’s Asian Games in Nagoya. I won’t set such a target. I just want to remind everyone that this stage belongs to you, and it’s something you’ve worked hard to achieve. So, stand on your stage, give it your all, believe in yourselves, run, jump, and perform to your heart’s content.”