This year's Taiwan Area Athletic Meet made a big splash even before it got under way, when the planning commission came up with the idea of picking a mascot for the games. As soon as the word got out, people from all walks of life proffered suggestions. It was finally decided to take the democratic approach of letting the elementary school students of Taipei, nearly 300,000 of them in all, vote for their favorite, and in a runoff between a raccoon, lion, clouded leopard, Taiwan black bear, antelope, and elephant, they picked the raccoon. The commission promptly copyrighted the symbol with the National Bureau of Standards to prevent copying, marking an historic first for the games.

The opening ceremony was held on the afternoon of September 23. The torch bearers were Wang Chen-chih (Sadaharu Oh), the home run king of Japanese baseball, and Chin Yu-fang, a gold medalist in taekwondo at the 1988 Olympics. The ceremony was presided over by Taipei Mayor Wu Po-hsiung, and Premier Lee Huan delivered the opening address. More than 8,000 athletes, trainers, and judges from every city and county of the Taiwan Province took part in the meet.

In his opening remarks Mayor Wu pointed out several special features of this year's competition.

First, preliminary qualifying standards were set for each event, and the number of participants was reduced to raise the level of performance and intensify the competition. At the same time, the number of awards was lowered from 416 to 310.

Next, entry to the competition areas by unauthorized persons was strictly prohibited. Reporters and photographers were issued special T shirts to identify them and to control spectators from interfering with the athletes. Facsimile machines and computer terminals were installed at various competition sites to facilitate reporting to the public at large.

Finally, the athletes were housed in local hotels for greater comfort rather than in school classrooms or dormitories as in the past.

The commission did its utmost to improve the athletes' competitive environment so that they could achieve their best performances, and these outstanding young people from every part of the island did not disappoint them.

In swimming, Tsai Hsin-yen shattered the national and Asian Games records in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:03.83, proving that he will be a top contender at next year's Asian Games.

In swimming, thirteen national records were broken in five events, and 25 meet records in eleven events. Wang Chi and Chiang Yu-chi each captured five medals to lead in the individual totals.

As for track and field, iron man Ku Chin-shui won the decathlon. He and Li Fu-en had just set a new national record of 5.25 meters in the pole vault when he pushed it to 5.26 in the decathlon. The next goal that he and Li are aiming at is to score 8,000 in the decathlon at the Asian Track and Field games later this year.

In the long jump, Nai Hui-fang with his "coiled spring legs," set successive national records with 7.94 and 7.99 meters.

Except for swimming and track and field, though, the results in the other areas of competition were not as outstanding as had been expected. In weight-lifting, for instance, in which records used to drop right arid left, not a single national record was broken.

Shooting, archery, bowling, and other events fared similarly. Only bicycling did better, when four cyclists from Kaohsiung led by Li Fu-hsiang set a new national exhibition record in the 100-kilometer team bicycle race.

The equestrian competition, the meet's most aristocratic event, came off poorly because of the rain and mud. There were many scenes of horses balking at jumps or kicking over railings and riders taking a tumble.

The performances at the meet as a whole still fell short of Asian standards, and local athletes will have to put in some hard training over the next few years if they want to make a strong showing at the 1998 Asian Games.

[Picture Caption]

The theme of the Games this year was "The pursuit of excellence is right here in Taipei."

Former Japanese baseball superstar Sadaharu Oh carried the Area Games torch.

Ticket sales for the opening ceremonies were a big event.

Premier Lee Huan and Mayor Wu Po-hsiung did a circuit of the site to welcome and ask after participants.

There was more than enough excitement in the track and field events, but not enough new records. The photo shows the finals in the 100-meter dash.

(Above left) Ku Chin-shui set a new national record in the pole vault, but unfortunately missed the Asian Games record.

(Left center) Tsai Hsin-yen's time in the 100-meter breaststroke shattered both the national and Asian Games records.

Baseball was a little weaker because many of the best players were in Korea participating in the Asian Cup adult baseball tourney.

(Above right) The equestrian events were the most "aristocratic" event at the Games.(photo by Wen Chin Yang)

The number of squads was limited for the team sports. This meant that only truly capable teams made it, raising the interest for spectating.

The theme of the Games this year was "The pursuit of excellence is right here in Taipei.".

Ticket sales for the opening ceremonies were a big event.

Premier Lee Huan and Mayor Wu Po-hsiung did a circuit of the site to welcome and ask after participants.

There was more than enough excitement in the track and field events, but not enough new records. The photo shows the finals in the 100-meter dash.

（Above left） Ku Chin-shui set a new national record in the pole vault, but unfortunately missed the Asian Games record.

（Left center） Tsai Hsin-yen's time in the 100-meter breaststroke shattered both the national and Asian Games records.

Baseball was a little weaker because many of the best players were in Korea participating in the Asian Cup adult baseball tourney.

（Above right） The equestrian events were the most "aristocratic" event at the Games.（photo by Wen Chin Yang）

The number of squads was limited for the team sports. This meant that only truly capable teams made it, raising the interest for spectating.