Nagoya:Taiwan Sports Minister Lee Yang declined to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Para Games in Japan on Sunday due to a last-minute change in his accreditation status.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lee was initially issued a "Sports Minister" credential, which was later altered to "NPC Guest," indicating a guest of a national Paralympic committee. This led to his decision to skip the event, as announced by his ministry in a statement on Sunday evening.
This incident follows a similar controversy from the previous month, where Lee's attendance at an Asian Games ceremony faced issues. The Ministry of Sports expressed strong dissatisfaction and regret over the change, emphasizing that accreditation categories should accurately reflect officials' positions and that any alterations should be properly explained. In response, the ministry lodged a formal protest with the Asian Paralympic Committee through Taiwan's national Paralympic committee and is addressing the issue through diplomatic channels.
Previously, on September 18, Lee attended an Asian Games flag-raising ceremony in Japan after a delay caused by an alleged attempt to exclude him. Officials at the venue claimed the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) had ordered Lee's exclusion, but they could not substantiate it when questioned. Japanese organizers later attributed the delay to a miscommunication with the OCA, which also acknowledged the misunderstanding.
Despite Lee's absence, 25 Taiwanese athletes, coaches, and delegation staff participated in the parade at the opening ceremony, led by flag bearers Liu Ya-ting and Liu Wei-chi. Taiwan has been a participant in every edition of the Asian Para Games since 2010 and has sent 71 athletes to compete in various categories this year, including archery, athletics, and swimming, among others. The fifth Asian Para Games are taking place from October 18 to 24 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya.
