Taipei is the brand new Host of the 2017 Summer Universiade !

Held every two years, the Universiade, or World University Games, is organized for university athletes by the Lausanne-based International University Sports Federation. It's kind of the Olympic Games but only for students.

The 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei will include 14 compulsory sports — athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, fencing, tennis, volleyball, basketball, football, judo, table tennis and taekwondo. 

Taiwain is a huge sporting nation, they really love it ! It's a part of their culture, you can find basketball or baseball court everywhere in taipei. For example, i have more than 6 basketball courts open 24/7 near my appartment. Everyone is playing, night and day. Kind of the same sports spirits of the USA. That's why they're really happy about this event. I also think that this events is great for Taiwan because it can put the light on this beautiful country which is not sufficiently recognized in the world on a political, diplomatic , and tourism point of view. 

But it has triggered controversy.

The Taipei city government is recruiting 30,000 volunteers to serve at the 2017 Summer Universiade in the city. The sporting event will need the support of many volunteers because it is likely to draw 10,000 athletes from different countries, many of whom may not speak English. The volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Some people are very septic about this huge recruiting who look kind of impossible for them. They do not really trust in the capacity of organization of their country.

Also, the taiwanese government had to pay couple billions of dollars in different infrastructures planned for set this events. In particular a huge stadium in Taipei called the Taipei Dome. Taiwanese citizen are upset whith those kind of spendings.

 The taipei dome

Some of them thinks that Taiwan will not be good enough or prepared enough to welcome this kind of event. And they fear about that because they don't wan't people to have a bad or worst reputation about Taiwan because of this. Like Brasil with the world cup... And of course this events cost a lot for the taiwanese citizen.

To conclude, holding the Universiade is a major step in Taiwan's participation in the global community, and can form part of the country's soft power diplomatic strategy for example. However The Universiade cost a lot for the taiwanese citizens and they really expect a positive return on all the points seen.