Lee Yang, two-time Olympic men’s doubles gold medalist from Chinese Taipei, has officially accepted the invitation from the Executive Yuan to serve as the inaugural director of the soon-to-be-established Taiwan Sports Department, calling it both a new journey and a heavy responsibility.
Lee Yang announced the news through his personal social media under the title: “New journey, original intention remains unchanged.”
In his statement, Lee Yang expressed gratitude to the President, the Premier, his family, partners, and supporters, saying: “Thank you for trusting me with this mission. I will respond to this trust and everyone’s expectations with action.”
Reflecting on his career, Lee Yang emphasized that as a former athlete, he understands the challenges faced by players, coaches, and sports professionals. After retirement, he remained active in education and the industry, and now aims to translate that experience into concrete action by promoting policies that serve both grassroots and competitive sports.
He acknowledged concerns regarding his limited administrative experience but stated: “This is a challenge I must learn quickly, but I will not face it alone. I believe in professional leadership and team governance. The Sports Department will gather experts, administrators, and resources to move forward, ensuring our vision becomes a reality.”
Lee Yang also addressed potential conflicts of interest, confirming that all compliance procedures have been completed to ensure a clear separation between public and private matters. He pledged to dedicate himself fully to his new role, with the singular goal of improving sports development in Taiwan.
As part of his initial vision, Lee Yang outlined six key areas to drive growth in Taiwan’s sports sector:
- True implementation of national sports: making sports part of everyday life
- Integrating resources to strengthen competitive development: linking the sports department, Taiwan training center, and associations to create a more supportive training environment
- Promoting international competitions and exchanges: showcasing Taiwan’s sporting strength and style to the world
- Expanding grassroots programs to foster long-term talent pipelines
- Building better infrastructure and facilities for athletes at all levels
- Strengthening cooperation between public and private sectors for sustainable sports development
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