To promote the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, Taipei City Government is joining hands with Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC) and Taiwan Taxi to offer drivers discount on gas money by putting on promotion flags on their vehicles.
Emile Shang, the head of the Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission and executive director of the Taipei Organizing Committee of the 21st Summer Deaflympics, noted that drivers can pick up promotion packages consisting of a small Deaflympics flag to be placed on the car and a discount booklet (each booklet contains four NT$50 gas discount coupons). The packages are available at the 12 district offices in Taipei or at any branch store of Chuan Lian Supermarket north of Hsinchu (Taipei City/County, Hsinchu, and Taoyuan); the promotion package is available from today until September 15. Individuals are limited to one promotion package each.
By placing the flag on their vehicles, drivers can use their coupons at participating gas stations to receive a NT$50 discount when filling up with at least 20 liters of gas (limited to one coupon per fill up, and only for gas added directly to the vehicle). There are 306 gas stations island-wide taking part in the campaign; drivers will find the Deaflympics banners displayed at the participating stations.
Mayor Hau Lung-bin encourages residents to show their support through participating in the “Support Deaflympics, Yield to Pedestrians” campaign. He hopes that the public will show the hearing-impaired athletes that Taipei is a friendly city where drivers give way to pedestrians. This marks the first time the Deaflympics has been held in Asia, and he hopes that the international event will become Taiwan’s pride.
During the ceremony, the mayor took on the role of a gas station manager and helped fill up the gas for the first group of taxicabs from Taiwan Taxi to carry the Deaflympics promotion flags. One of the taxi drivers, surnamed Lee, noted that the incentive not only helps to promote the sports event, but also helps them save gas money.