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Updated Saturday, November 14, 2009 11:15 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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Taiwan sports need to expand market

As a result, the educated are not expected to become professional athletes, while education is not expected for many athletes. In this light, it is preposterous to suggest that athletes are symbols of purity in a society that generally that does not require them to be educated and does not provide them with the education they need that would ensure a stable income after they pass out of their primes.

The second and most pressing problem for Taiwan's sports is the lack of a sustainable market. Professional sports teams survive on revenues from live game ticket sales, TV franchises and other products stemming from the brand of the teams. Without a sizeable market, Taiwan will only see more of its athletes with potential looking for better teams — and markets.

In addition to reforming Taiwan's attitude to professional sports, there is another possible solution: Taiwan's professional sports teams can compete in mainland Chinese leagues.

Before anyone cries “treason” or “Taiwan seller,” one should consider the case of the Canadian teams in the U.S. baseball and basketball leagues, such as the Toronto Raptors in the NBA and Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB. Both teams are successful franchises based in Canada enjoying both athletic and financial success thanks to a strong fan base in the U.S.

The Raptors made the NBA Playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and the Blue Jays captured the World Series in 1992 and 1993. No one questions their nationality and no one loves them less for being Canadian.

With talented athletes and good packaging, Taiwan's professional teams have a shot to win hearts and minds — billions of hearts and minds — in mainland China. Cross-strait athletic interaction can also contribute to better understanding between the mainland Chinese and Taiwanese people.

Obviously, relations between Canada and the U.S. cannot compare to the complicated cross-strait relations. Any exchange between China and Taiwan will be subjected to political challenges. Sports authorities from Taiwan will need highly evolved negotiating skills to take a strong stance when dealing with China so as not to lose Taiwan's sovereignty on the bargaining table. If going west is the way for many industries in China, there is no reason why the sports industry should be the exception.

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