Olympic gold medalist Lee Yang takes office as sports minister

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) 30-year-old former professional badminton player Lee Yang (李洋) took office Tuesday as Taiwan's first sports minister, as the Cabinet inaugurated the newly established Ministry of Sports.

Lee, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, received his official appointment from Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) at a ceremony at the National Taiwan University Sports Center, becoming the youngest minister in Taiwan's history.

In his remarks, Lee said his extensive sporting experience would help him work to boost Taiwan's sports development.

First, he pledged to promote "sports for all" -- to realize President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) vision of encouraging nationwide participation in sports and improving public health through systematic planning.

Lee also said he wanted to promote gender equality in sports and make it more accessible for those with disabilities and seniors.

He also vowed to enhance Taiwan's capacity and visibility in international sports. "We will actively bid for and host more international competitions, strengthening Taiwan's global presence in sports."

In addition, he said, the ministry will work to cultivate youth and grassroots talent."By providing children with opportunities and resources, we can support and nurture them all the way, helping them find hope in sports and fulfill their dreams."

"As someone who has been there myself, I understand the importance of balancing studying and training for student-athletes -- not only for their future, but also for the development of society," Lee said.

"As an athlete, I love challenges and winning with my team. I will uphold the spirit of sports and work with you to create a new milestone in Taiwan's sporting journey," Lee added.

Expressing confidence in Lee, Cho noted that Lee had served as one of the Cabinet's advisors in preparing for the creation of the ministry, never missing a meeting and often offering valuable insights into how to empower athletes.

President Lai, who also attended the ceremony, acknowledged that some may doubt Lee's foray into politics and his ability to lead the new ministry.

"The first steps are always the hardest," Lai said. "But however hard they may be, they cannot be harder than winning two Olympic gold medals," he added, expressing his administration's "full support" for Lee.