Officials spoke at a press conference after yesterday's Executive Yuan meeting. Photo: Chung Li-hua, Taipei Times
For the better: The revisions are aimed at promoting the growth of the sports industry, raising Taiwan's international profile and ensuring that decision-making better reflects the needs of athletes, the sports ministry said.
By Shelley Shan / staff reporter
Please read on...
People will be able to verify the qualifications of sports coaches through an online inquiry system, as the Executive Yuan passed amendments to the National Sports Act (National Sports Act) yesterday.
The sports ministry said it proposed the amendments to ensure children are protected and to prevent unqualified coaches from entering schools.
The amendments will list sexual assault, severe bullying, corporal punishment and instructing athletes to use banned substances as grounds for disqualification, and raise relevant provisions to the legal level, the sports ministry said.
The government should refuse to issue licenses, withhold licenses or revoke the licenses of coaches, referees and other sports professionals deemed unfit, the amendment states.
The online system will allow people to search for coaches, referees and other sports professionals by name or license number to help distinguish people with the same name or those who have changed their names.
"We will work with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Justice to confirm and update the list of unqualified coaches. Sports associations will be required to investigate any individual cases first and remove those involved in the case from the investigation. Once a coach is found to have violated the law, he will be removed immediately," Sports Minister Li Yang said.
The amendments would also change the special school curriculum for athletic specialists.
Students in this type of program receive additional and often intensive athletic training while taking regular on-campus courses.
The system was originally designed to develop athletes for intercollegiate, national and international competitions, but there have been concerns about the balance between athletic training and academic education.
The amendment states that schools should establish appropriate supervision mechanisms to ensure that students in sports classes receive a comprehensive education and avoid over-training and excessive competition.
In addition, sports classes are not allowed to be set up in elementary schools, and existing sports classes in elementary schools will be transformed into sports clubs or community sports, the Ministry of Sports said.
"This reform does not require children to give up sports. On the contrary, we hope that they can participate in sports in a gradual and step-by-step manner. We also hope that students participating in sports classes can have a normal education," Li Yang said, adding that policy details will be communicated with the Ministry of Education.
The amendments will also empower government agencies to prepare budgets and provide venues, sports equipment, assistive support and professionals to people with disabilities, the sports ministry said.
Organizers of sports events will be encouraged to create gender-inclusive event categories, the sports ministry added.
The amendment aims to promote the growth of the sports industry, enhance Taiwan's global visibility through sports diplomacy and international events, strengthen the financial transparency and governance of sports organizations, and ensure that decision-making can better reflect the needs of athletes, the sports ministry said.
News source: Taipei Times
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