Taiwan city warms up for 2009 World Games

TAIPEI, Oct 4 (Reuters) A southern Taiwan city is holding warm-up events and building stadiums in preparation to host the 2009 World Games, the biggest-ever international sporting event to be held on the island, an organiser said today.

The World Games, recognised by the International Olympic Committee as part of its movement, is expected to bring 3,200 athletes from 100 countries to Kaohsiung and will give Taiwan a blast of international attention less than a year after the 2008 Beijing Olympics take place in rival China.

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, but Taiwan officials are constantly seeking recognition from other countries.

A Chinese official has indicated twice that China would send athletes to the Kaohsiung games, an organiser from the city said.

The World Games cover a series of non-mainstream sports absent from the Olympics.

Next year, the city of 1.6 million expects to finish a domed stadium with 15,000 seats and an indoor shopping mall.

The following year it will complete a larger venue seating 55,000 spectators for additional events, which include bowling, dancing and beach lifesaving, said Kaohsiung games spokeswoman Grace Long.

The venue construction budget is T.27 billion (0 million), and game organising will cost almost T0 million.

From last week through the end of October, the city expects to receive 1,400 athletes for ''pre-events'' including a climbing championship and dragon boat races. These events are also a warm-up for sponsors.

''The Kaohsiung games should be looked at separately from the 2008 Beijing Olympics,'' said Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu.

''These are totally different events,'' Lu said. ''This is very symbolic (for Taiwan). It means our hardware and software are both in good order.'' REUTERS AB PM1558