Taipei: Taiwan’s first sports minister, Olympic gold medalist Lee Yang, marked his first day in office by jogging for 30 minutes around the Ministry of Sports building, underscoring his pledge to make exercise part of everyday life in the country.
According to Focus Taiwan, the 30-year-old Lee Yang took to Facebook to declare “National fitness starts with me,” alongside photos of himself signing his first policy initiative. This initiative encourages the public to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. The Ministry of Sports supported this message by sharing images on its official Threads account, showing Lee running solo around the building and reportedly covering a distance of 5,000 meters in half an hour.
On the previous day, Lee Yang, a two-time Olympic badminton champion, made history as Taiwan’s youngest-ever Cabinet minister by taking charge of the newly established Ministry of Sports. During his swearing-in ceremony, Lee committed to advancing President Lai Ching-te’s vision of “sports for all.” He aims to expand opportunities for youth and grassroots athletes and elevate Taiwan’s presence in international sports competitions.
Lee also highlighted the importance of inclusivity in sports, stating that they should be accessible to seniors, people with disabilities, and women. By aligning policy initiatives with personal actions, Lee aspires to demonstrate that sports should be an integral part of everyday life, extending beyond elite athletes to encompass the entire population.
