By KHT Staff. AI illustration image.
KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung’s two major mayoral candidates promoted markedly different parts of their campaigns Monday, with Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) unveiling campaign merchandise and a theme song while Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) renewed his support for a proposed gymnastics training center.
Kuomintang candidate Ko appeared with more than 30 KMT city councilors and council candidates near Weiwuying (衛武營) before holding a news conference at the party’s Kaohsiung headquarters.
Her campaign introduced a line of limited-edition T-shirts, caps and sports towels designed by a Kaohsiung youth team. It also released “World Kaohsiung,” a campaign song produced by local musician Wu Kun-lung (吳坤龍).
Ko said the campaign would emphasize pride in Kaohsiung and the city’s international ambitions while attempting to move away from personal attacks and political confrontation.
The launch served as a preview of Ko’s first large campaign rally, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday on an open site beside MRT Fongshan West Station (捷運鳳山西站). Former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and KMT New Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Sze-chuan (李四川) are expected to attend.
On the same day, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai visited Mingjheng Elementary School (明正國小) in Cianjhen District (前鎮區) to discuss plans for a city-level gymnastics training center.
Kaohsiung schools currently operate a gymnastics development program extending from elementary through senior high school. Lai said a dedicated facility could bring together student training, coaching programs, competitions and public activities.
The proposed center is expected to cost approximately NT$150 million. Under the city’s preliminary plan, 80 percent of the construction cost would be sought from the central government, with the remaining 20 percent provided locally.
Plans call for competition-standard flooring and equipment for events including vault, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars, balance beam and trampoline. The center would primarily be used for teaching and training rather than as a major spectator arena.
Deputy Sports Minister Yang Chi-wen (楊啓文) and K-12 Education Administration Deputy Director-General Tai Shu-fen (戴淑芬) said their agencies would produce a division-of-responsibilities plan within two weeks. That process is expected to determine which agencies would oversee the project and how funding applications would proceed.
No construction timetable has been announced.
