Olympic Delegation Athletes Fly Economy Class, While Officials Fly Business Class, Stirring Controversy
China Times, the Storm Media, and United Daily News, July 20, 2021
The Chinese Taipei delegation to the Tokyo Olympics departed for Japan on July 19. Tai Zi-ying, the world badminton queen posted an article in social media mentioning the good old time when she flew business class with EVA Air. From a selfie she took, it was found that she had to win the honor for the country but was seated in economy class rendering her fans all over the country with tremendous surprise. Her Facebook post became the target of attack by the cyber army, among thousands of messages were found a group of suspicious false accounts frantically attacking her with all sarcasms, ruthlessly criticizing her complaint of seating in economy class as macrocephaly.
Tai, together with the Chinese Taipei delegation, left Taipei’s Songshan Airport for Tokyo Olympics July 19 afternoon. Through her Instagram limited time dynamics posting, it was found unexpectedly that all athletes were seated at economy class, even their staying hotel was ranked three stars old hotel, setting up heated discussions. Despite President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai, Premier Su Tseng-chang and Ministry of Education (MOE), one after another apologized for this episode, the general public became enraged.
President Tsai posted an article in Facebook on the evening of July 19 expressing that our Olympics delegation arrived at Tokyo via a chartered flight today. She thought at first that she could once again help pep up our athletes to wish them every triumph throughout the game. In order to implement epidemic prevention measures and take care of the athletes, a charter flight was booked. But she never expected that athletes would not be seated in business class as in the past. Even they were not briefed with complete information.
President Tsai stated, “I once promised that all athletes and their coaches participating in major international games would fly business class in principle. As to the change of seating arrangement for epidemic purpose yet without full explanation to athletes in advance, I must express my apology.”
The episode of our Tokyo Olympics athletes flying economy class while officials flying business class tigered controversy. Director-General Chang Shao-hsi, director of the Sports Administration, MOE, tendered his resignation. Premier Su indicated that he would handle this case together with others after the Olympics game was over. When this episode occurred the day before yesterday, Premier Su had apologized three times within twenty-four hours.
Minister Pan Wen-chung confirmed that Director-General Chang had submitted oral and written resignations but premier Su instructed to take full care of Olympics game athletes to achieve best performance as our biggest goal and had yet approved it. Spokesman Lou Ping-cheng of Executive Yuan also indicated that Premier Su asked both the MOE and Sports Administration to take good care of our athletes and after the Olympics Games, the MOE and Sports Administration should submit reports for jointed review. Barrage of rumbling criticisms from the ruling party and opposition parties ensued, the Kuomintang (KMT) caucus of the Legislative Yuan demanded that Minister Pan step down.
From:
https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20210720004399-260403?chdtv
https://www.storm.mg/article/3824687