Let's Get Excited for the World Games 2009 !

　The mascot of the 2009 World Games has finally been announced on the 714th day before the World Games. International World Games Association (IWGA) President Ron Froehlich, the Vice Mayor of Kaohsiung Cheng Wen-Lung, along with the Chief Executive Officer of the Kaohsiung Organizing Committee (KOC) Chi Cheng revealed the mascot together in the entrance hall of the city government building. CEO Chi took the opportunity to encourage the whole country to join the trend and sell the World Games Kaohsiung to the world.

　Though holding the post for only a month, Ms. Chi, who has personally attended many world sports events, expressed her expectation and vision of World Games 2009. She said that Taiwan is experiencing diplomatic difficulties and hosting the World Games is a unique opportunity for Taiwan to transform the World Games into an Olympic-like international event to draw the world's attention.

　Although many people don't consider the World Games as important as the Olympics, Ms. Chi emphasized that many sports were in the World Games before making it to the Olympics. For example, the roller-skating event in the World Games has become one of the sports in the Asian Games and is qualified to be in the Olympic Games. Female softball, badminton, and taekwondo were all previous World Games events.

　Ms. Chi also pointed out that lacking passion could be a potential obstacle for this World Games. Not only Kaohsiung citizens, but everyone in Taiwan, should get excited about the upcoming World Games. With convenient transportation such as airplanes and the THSR, Taiwan is closer than ever and the whole country should be devoted in selling this World Games to the world.

　To enhance the spirit of preparing for the World Games, she would like to encourage everyone to start with the naming of the mascot, the perfect symbol for Kaohsiung. As a waterfront city, port-related industries in Kaohsiung are well-developed and Kaohsiung is a marine city second to none. Therefore, using water as the core theme and developing a relevant mascot absolutely fit the characteristics of Kaohsiung. Meanwhile, as global warming is receiving great attention all around the world, the core theme is a good choice and will express the vision of Kaohsiung, "Marine Capital, Friendly City".

　Ms. Chi added that the mascot combines both characteristics of Kaohsiung - water and light. With the water drop shaped head and the slightly colored translucent body, the mascot definitely conveys these two features. In addition, the Kaohsiung Arena uses solar energy, which doesn't cause pollution, and that concept is also shown with the little dot on the top of the mascot's head. Therefore, the mascot is fitting in the theme of green energy and environmental protection.

　President Ron Froehlich expressed his admiration toward the mascot and how important water is to sports and the world. He also emphasized that the Kaohsiung Arena and the Main Stadium for the 2009 World Games are "green" buildings that loyally convey the environmental protection theme.

　Ms. Chi stressed that the World Games should not only be Kaohsiung citizens' concern, but also an important matter for all Taiwanese. People should participate, support, and even be crazy for the World Games. In this way, we can really introduce Taiwan to the international community.

　The naming competition for the World Games mascot will last until the end of August. Kaohsiung City Government invites everyone to participate in the activity. The final name will be chosen and announced in October. The winner of the naming competition will receive a special souvenir.

2009 高雄世運會 全民瘋起來

◎文／無明　◎攝影／鮑忠暉

　　2009高雄世運會吉祥物「水精靈」，在世運會倒數計時的第714天誕生了！國際世界運動總會（ＩＷＧＡ）會長朗佛契、副市長鄭文隆及世運組委會基金會(簡稱KOC）執行長紀政，8月1日在市府中庭親手接生。紀政執行長呼籲全民都應該要「瘋」起來，全民都是世運賽事的推銷員。

　　接任執行長甫滿月，國際體壇長青樹紀政也在這個特別的時刻勾勒出世運的願景及遠景。紀政說，台灣外交困境中，能舉辦世運是非常不容易，應珍惜這次機會，讓世運成為另類的奧運，成為國際體壇矚目的焦點。

　　雖然，世運在國人心中的分量不能與奧運相比，但紀政提醒國人不能忽視世運，因為許多奧運項目都是經由世運再進入奧運，例如世運賽中的滑輪溜冰已成為下屆亞運比賽項目，已具備向奧運叩關的條件。還有女壘、羽球、跆拳等運動，都曾是世運賽中的一員。

　　參與無數國際體壇活動的紀政也為世運把脈，她覺得，目前最欠缺的是熱情，不應只是高雄市的鄉親有熱情，而是全台灣都應熱起來瘋狂起來，一起來瘋世運。因為台灣頭尾因飛機、高鐵等交通便利，早已沒有距離，全台灣都是一體的，全民都應該是世運賽事推銷員。

　　紀政說，所有的熱情不妨就從「水精靈」開始。她解釋「水精靈」的意函，是高雄是臨海城市，海港工業發達，稱為海洋首都當之無愧，採用「水」之意象做為主要核心概念去發展設計構想，確實符合高雄港都的特色；加上當前地球暖化議題受到全世界的關注，採用「水」的議題來設計吉祥物更能切合全球話題，展現「海洋首都．友善城市」的精神理念。

　　她說，「水精靈」將高雄市的兩大特色─水與光的意象相結合，頭型以水滴造型呈現，身體則是發光體，用以展現高雄發光的城市意象，且水精靈頭上的小球是高雄市世界運動會主場館採用不會引起污染的太陽能發電為概念的發想。「水精靈」契合綠色能源、關懷環境的國際議題。

　　IWGA主席RON對高雄市的吉祥物用「水」作為視覺意象深表認同，認為水不但對運動很重要，世界對於水資源也很重視，高雄市的小巨蛋及主場館就是符合環保概念的綠建築。

　　紀政說，世運不只是高雄人的事，也是全台灣的事，應該要像所有國際體育盛會般，「百萬人參與、千萬人支持、億萬人狂熱」，如此，才能將台灣帶上國際。

　　世運吉祥物即日起至8月底，徵求全民一起來命名，於10月公布吉祥物名稱，凡經採用命名皆可獲得高雄世運吉祥物紀念品乙份。