Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin arrived at the Hsinchuang Stadium to inspect preparations for the upcoming 2009 Deaflympics on September 3. He also greeted the athletes practicing at the stadium.

The Hsinchuang Stadium in Taipei County will be one of the venues for the volleyball tournament.

The organizers have arranged for women’s volleyball teams from eight countries (Argentina, White Russia, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States) to practice at the Hsinchuang Stadium between September 3 and September 5.

After arriving at the stadium, Hau watched the practice of Argentina women’s team. In between practice, the mayor met with the team members and coaches and presented each of them with a box of pineapple cake.

Regarding questions about the possibility of heavy rain interrupting the opening ceremony on September 5, the mayor stressed that the Organizing Committee of the 21st Summer Deaflympics has a number of backup plans to deal with all possible scenarios. According to Hau, the committee will implement the appropriate plan based on the actual situation this Saturday.

The mayor remarked that postponing the opening ceremony is one of the possible plans.