By Duncan Mackay

Taipei 2017 budget plans have been criticised by Councillors in the Taiwanese capital October 27 - A row has broken out over the budget for the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei with the Council in the Taiwanese capital being accused of misusing public funding and guilt of extravagant spending on the event.


A budget of NT$36.8 billion (£790 million/$1.25 billion/€927 million) has been allocated for the event but local Councillors claim contracts still have to be signed with any of the 64 venues that will be used to the Games, which is expected to attract up to 10,000 athletes. 

"The contracts were originally to be completed by August, but this has not been done," said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) City Councilor Wang Hao.

"So far, all the cases are still being worked out, yet more than NT$5 billion (£107 million/$170 million/€130 million) has already been committed for the renovation and upgrading of these venues."

Taipei celebrate being awarded the 2017 Summer UniversiadeTaipei celebrate being awarded the 2017 Summer Universiade

Another Councillor, Yen Sheng-kuan, who represents the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), questioned whether Taipei was getting value for money from the Universiade. 

"The promotional video [for the bid] alone cost more than NT$5 million (£1.1 million/$1.7 million/€1.3 million), but the product was not worth the money spent," she said.

Yen's DPP colleague, Lin Shih-tsung, called for more information to be shared with Taipei City Councillors, including on the recruitment process for staff. 

"This is a process that lacks transparency," he said.

"It may become a 'black book' operation, because the city has not explained its hiring policy in this area.

"Some staff were hired after just an interview, and their qualifications and expertise have been questioned."

Taipei were awarded the event in November 2011 by the International University Sports Federation, beating Brazilian capital Brasilia. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2013: Taipei 2017 sets up Committee to organise Universiade
September 2012: Taipei signs landmark 2017 Universiade construction deal with UKTI
December 2011: Taiwan hopes 2017 Summer Universiade will boost economy