The Healthy City- Kaohsiung / 健康城市高雄
Health and exercise will become the most prominent feature of Kaohsiung next year. After becoming known as a friendly city, Kaohsiung also strides toward being recognized as a healthy city- an ambition which is the city government's main goal in the year 2005. In coordination with the preparatory work being carried out for hosting the 2009 World Games, plans to cultivate healthy minds, and achieve proper sanitation, and medical treatment throughout Kaohsiung, will also be carried out. It is hoped that all citizens will become conscious of their health and exercise regularly.
A walking race by the Love River
An exponent of the walking race, Ms. Chi Cheng, is representing the walking race to be held in Kaohsiung. This event is to be organized by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan. Ms. Chi praised Kaohsiung for successfully winning the right to host the 2009 World Games. Since the Love River is so spectacular, it's an enjoyment to walk along its banks, thus making it an ideal venue for a walking race.
Vigorous walking is the most economical as well as convenient body building exercise. In order to match the goal of becoming a healthy city, after the vigorous activity of this year, the city government will also hold the walk activities around Lotus Lake next year, where attractive and interesting scenery is very suitable for vigorous walks. Its aim is to create the trend of vigorous walking and bodybuilding around the whole of Kaohsiung.
Establish the 2009 World Games Preparatory Committee
It is a symbolization of the city's development into a "healthy city". When Mayor Hsieh and MR. Ron Froehlich, the president of the International World Games Association, beat drums side by side and uncovered the board and establish the 2009 World Games Preparatory Committee. Kaohsiung citizens have a great ambition to welcome the coming of the 2009 World Games.
Some comopetition items featured in the World Games are not included in the Olympic Games such as skating, a tug of war, Aikido, etc. There are 34 competition items in Kaohsiung's 2009 World Games. After successfully winning the right of hosting the 2009 World Games, much preparatory work has been needed to be done. Firstly, it was necessary to select a Sports Director and Dr. Huang Chi-huang was assigned to this post on July 14. The jogging event and the parade held on July 15 showed the citizens' enthusiasm and anticipation. The count down clock was also started. A website for the World Games in Kaohsiung (http://www.worldgames2009.org.tw) was set up on July 16, in order that it should be a "window" of the 2009 World Games. The 2009 World Games Preparatory Committee in Kaohsiung was formally established on October 15. Kaohsiung was ready in every preparation with in the time frame.
The Vision of Kaohsiung
Formally, Taiwan has never had the experience of holding an international competition above the level of the Asian Games. Hosting the 2009 World Games not only makes Kaohsiung the first city in Taiwan to hold an international games' event, but also creates a new precedent for the history of Taiwan. This initial model of a Preparatory Committee will also set up a paradigm and lay a foundation for Taiwan to host international games in the future. Because of this hosting experience, Kaohsiung will become the most qualified city to compete for the hosting right of the next Olympic Games.
Kaohsiung has the determination to spare no effort to host the 2009 World Games because the 2009 World Games will become the pivot for Taiwan to open the window to the world and allow Taiwan to stride forward onto the international stage. In order to hold the World Games successfully, Kaohsiung has sought become the first city with wireless network in Taiwan. Furthermore, Jhongshan Road and Boai Road are mapped out to be the "road of the fire." They will then become the Known as the "Formosa Road," which can be compared favorably with many international scenic avenues.
General exercise- general health
There are various places to exercise all around Kaohsiung such as pedestrian paths, student paths and even bicycle paths as well as spaces for general exercise. Kaohsiung is developing into a healthy city in accordance with the 2009 World Games. Mayor Hsieh clearly indicates that in order to be known as a healthy city. It is necessary to promote the idea of a healthy education and culture which will ultimately lead to a healthy society. A healthy mind is also to be considered. It is the ultimate goal of the city to promote the idea of athleticism, which will generate a healthy approach to life. So, in order that a healthy city may pursue a multidimensional health plan, a need to promote such an image is vital. Kaohsiung will not only activate its citizens' physical vigor but also strengthen multidimensional healthy goals such as creating a healthy mind as well as focusing a sanitation and medical treatment.
Training the athletes is an important goal of the 2009 World Games. Sports activities represent as tag which to display a nation's power; therefore, it is very important to win prizes in all international games. Excellent athletes should be rewarded, but the ultimate goal is not only to invite our compatriots to sit in front of the TV and watch the national champions' outstanding performances. It also aims to arouse their interests in exercise. It is hoped that by participating in sports activities, every citizen will become strong, healthy and be fond of sports.
Kaohsiung is now actively preparing for the 2009 World Games as well as striding forward to become a healthy city, thus displaying the city's new vitality. Kaohsiung is not only a beautiful and friendly city, but also a healthy one from now on.
健康運動將成為高雄社會的顯學。繼2004年高雄市成為「友善城市」後，2005年高雄將朝向「健康城市」邁進，因為「健康城市」將是2005年市府施政的總目標，配合二○○九世界運動會的主辦，高雄不僅要推動全民體能，還要強化心靈、衛生、醫療等多面向的健康目標，希望全民愛好運動、全民都健康。
「百萬聚樂步」，愛河齊步走
「飛躍的羚羊」紀政女士在為行政院衛生署國民健康局主辦「百萬聚樂步」健走活動代言時，稱許成功爭取到二○○九世界運動會主辦權的高雄市，是全國唯一最積極爭取舉辦國際運動賽事的城市，並因為愛河實在太美了，不論白天、夜晚，在愛河畔行走都是一種享受，所以將「百萬聚樂步」全國十五場健走活動的最後一場擺在高雄愛河畔舉行。
健走是最經濟且方便的健身運動，為配合「健康城市」的目標，繼今年愛河健走，明年市府將在有明媚風光，十分適合健走、步行運動的蓮池潭環潭步道舉辦健走活動，希望帶起在美麗高雄健走及運動健身的風氣。
2009世運會籌備處掛牌成立
象徵「健康城市」的開展，在謝市長與國際世界運動總會會長Mr. Ron Froehlich佛朗契並肩雙錘擊出隆咚隆咚鼓聲及揭牌下，肩負二○○九世界運動會運籌帷幄重任的「高雄市二○○九世運會籌備處」，正式掛牌運作，高雄人正以一股如大軍出征般的壯志雄心，迎接二○○九世運會的到來。
世運會競賽的項目如直排輪、拔河、合氣道等，是非奧運比賽項目，二○○九在高雄舉行的世運會將舉行三十四項運動競技。籌辦世運千頭萬緒，從今年六月十五日高雄市成功爭取二○○九世運會主辦權後，首先是七月十四日宣佈體委會副主委黃啟煌博士擔任二○○九世運會體育總監；七月十五日舉行世運會慢跑暨遊行慶祝活動，展現全民支持世運會的熱情與期待；愛河畔「世運之祝」倒數計時鐘的啟用，為主辦世運會祝福加持；七月十六日世運會高雄網站www.worldgames2009.org.tw開設，開啟二○○九世運會的視窗樞紐、也網住全世界注目的焦點；十月十五日高雄市二○○九世運會籌備委員會名單出爐，宣示二○○九世運會智囊團成軍；直到十一月四日籌備處正式掛牌運作，所有前置籌備時程，高雄均在時效內就緒。
寫下歷史新頁，躍登國際舞台
台灣過去從未有舉辦亞運以上的國際級賽事經驗，高雄市主辦二○○九世運會不僅是台灣第一個舉辦國際賽事的城市，高雄世運會籌備處也將為台灣首次辦理的國際運動賽事寫下歷史新頁，籌備處運作模式，也將為台灣日後辦理的世界級運動比賽樹立典範，奠定根基。因著這樣的主辦經驗，高雄市也將成為最具有爭辦奧運資格的城市。
高雄市有傾全力辦好二○○九世運會的決心，因為二○○九世運會成為台灣開啟世界窗口的樞紐，讓台灣成功走出國際。為了辦好世運會，高雄市積極建構台灣第一個無線上網的城市，規劃為世運聖火大道的中山、博愛路，屆時也將搖身成為媲美國際級景觀大道的「美麗島大道」。
全民運動，多面向的健康
也因此高雄城市中處處可見優質的健康活動空間，如人行步道、通學步道，甚至自行車步道和各項的運動場所，配合二○○九世運會，高雄要形塑為「健康城市」，謝市長說得清楚：健康城市是廣泛的概念，在追求健康教育、健康服務、健康文化、健康社會等多元面向，其中也包括心靈健康層面，但也因為社會趨於多元化，因此必須以團結、進步的力量與社會不健康的一面競爭，才能讓健康元素成為社會主流與顯學，並散布全市。所以健康城市是追求多面向的健康，需要極力推動與提倡，不僅要推動全民體能，還要強化心靈、衛生、醫療等多面向的健康目標。
而為了二○○九世運會，培訓運動人才是重要的目的，體育是展現國力的平台，所以在國際比賽得獎相當重要，因此必須獎勵表現突出的選手；但終極目的，並不是要國人只在電視機前看國手精彩的比賽過程，而是要全民愛好體育運動，藉由各項的體育活動，親身參與，強健自己的身體，讓全民愛好運動、全民都健康。
高雄積極籌備二○○九世界運動會，也大步邁向「健康城市」，城市的新活力及生命力也藉此展現，今後的高雄，不但美麗、友善，更有了健康。