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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Children Forced to Compete in Taipei Rainstorm Despite Flooding

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Children competed in a track and field event in Taipei despite heavy rain and severe flooding in the Neihu district.
  • The event, guided by the Taipei City Department of Education, proceeded despite warnings and hazardous conditions.
  • Parents and a city councilor expressed outrage over the disregard for children's safety.

Children were forced to compete in a track and field event in Taipei under torrential rain and severe flooding conditions, drawing outrage from parents and a city councilor. The "Donghu Cup Track and Field Invitational," guided by the Taipei City Department of Education and hosted by Donghu Elementary School, continued despite a severe rainstorm warning and widespread flooding in the Neihu district.

Ignoring the children's lives! Neihu heavy rain, Department of Education track and field competition proceeds as usual! Elementary school students soaked, parents furious!

— Hung Wan-chenTaipei City Councilor Hung Wan-chen expressed her outrage on Facebook regarding the continuation of a children's track and field event during a severe rainstorm and flooding.

Taipei City Councilor Hung Wan-chen shared videos on Facebook showing young students racing and walking in the downpour. She criticized the event organizers for disregarding the children's safety, especially given that Neihu had experienced its most severe flooding since Typhoon Nari. "Ignoring the children's lives! Neihu heavy rain, Department of Education track and field competition proceeds as usual! Elementary school students soaked, parents furious!" she exclaimed.

The competition involved 159 students from 14 elementary schools, participating in events like the 60m, 100m, and 200m races, as well as a 2000m race walk. Parents complained about inadequate rain preparedness and care measures, forcing children to compete while drenched and without dry clothes. The 2000m race walk, lasting over 20 minutes in the heavy rain, was particularly criticized as a risk to children's health rather than a promotion of sportsmanship.

Is this cultivating sportsmanship or playing with children's health?

— Hung Wan-chenCouncilor Hung questioned the rationale behind holding the track and field event for elementary school students amidst dangerous weather conditions.

Councilor Hung questioned whether the event was cultivating sportsmanship or gambling with children's health. She criticized Mayor Chiang Wan-an's administration for not prioritizing student safety, asking if the competition would have proceeded if the mayor's own children were participating. Netizens echoed the sentiment, questioning the officials' judgment and the consequences of potential injuries.

What is the Department of Education doing? Chiang Wan-an, as the patriarch of Taipei, you are truly unqualified!

— Hung Wan-chenHung Wan-chen directly criticized the city's education department and the mayor for their handling of the situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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