Universiade Boosts Taipei’s Tourism Appeal as Taiwan Grabs International Headlines on CNN and More

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

Even before the competition began, media outlets from around the world were scrambling to report on the Universiade. The painted floors of Taipei’s MRT went viral globally, with the swimming pool design drawing particular attention. Outlets such as the UK’s REUTERS and the US’s CNN both covered this creative promotional approach, also noting that the Universiade is the largest sporting event ever hosted by Taiwan. The country made great efforts in upgrading tourist attractions and promoting

Argentine local media SENTI ARGENTINA also extensively covered the debut of the medals at the Taipei Universiade, highlighting the medal design and the unique "North" character emblem, showcasing the beauty of Chinese characters to Central and South America. The British media INSIDETHEGAMES, which focuses on international sporting events, also mentioned that since Taipei won the right to host the Universiade, it has shown a strong sense of mission in both urban development and public participation. The entire opening ceremony also convinced people that Taiwan is ready to shine and make an impact on the world stage.

Homegrown athletes have always been a major topic of coverage for media worldwide. The Russian news agency TASS reported that Russian President Putin spoke highly of the athletes' performances, particularly praising those who won medals in diving, weightlifting, taekwondo, and fencing. The Dutch water polo team became hugely popular in Taiwan, significantly boosting audience interest and ticket sales for their matches. Dutch news outlet DUTCH NEWS also covered this, promoting the Universiade's opening day and the Dutch water polo team’s first match. Notably, Norway’s national basketball team, which participated after years of absence due to domestic funding issues, was widely reported by Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK, helping to raise awareness of the Taipei Universiade among more Europeans.

Taiwan’s naming issue has also become a focus for many international media outlets due to hosting the Universiade. The U.S. NEW YORK TIMES drew a parallel with the U.S. having to refer to itself as "British Washington" when participating in international competitions, illustrating the challenges Taiwan faces in global sports events. The use of the term “Chinese Taipei” sparked discussions among international media, with outlets such as Japan’s Kyodo News, India’s The Indian Express, and Italy’s La Stampa all covering the topic. Germany’s DEUTSCHE WELLE also reported on the absence of the Chinese team from the opening ceremony but explained that the Universiade is extremely important for young athletes, and that German athletes are focused on rankings without getting involved in sensitive political issues.