From New York Times:
China boycotted the opening of the 2009 World Games on Thursday night, apparently as a snub of the host, Taiwan.
Taiwan is hosting the World Games at the port city of Kaohsiung. Some 4,800 athletes from 105 nations will compete, according to the event’s official Web site.
Aurora Yang, from the Kaohsiung Organizing Committee Media Liaison Office, said by telephone that 77 mainland Chinese athletes had completed the application process for competing in seven sports, including fin-swimming, boules and water-skiing. But none of them showed up for the opening ceremony.
“We don’t know why they didn’t come, and we didn’t get any official announcement, so we can’t comment,” Ms. Yang said.
