Reliving Sporting Memories: “Asia on the Field: Taiwan and the Asian Games Special Exhibition” Grandly Opens Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Culture Join Forces to Preserve Sporting Glory as National Cultural Assets
The Ministry of Sports (MOS), the Ministry of Culture (MOC), and the National Museum of Taiwan History (NMTH) have jointly launched the “Asia on the Field: Taiwan and the Asian Games Special Exhibition”, which officially opened on May 6. Minister of Sports Lee Yang and Minister of Culture Li Yuan attended the opening ceremony, noting that the exhibition marks another milestone in inter-ministerial collaboration following initiatives such as the Youth Sports Voucher × Cultural Coin Program and the Double Million Sports Comics Selection. The exhibition also reflects the MOS’s commitment to preserving Taiwan’s sporting heritage, strengthening public engagement, and transforming valuable historical materials into cultural assets shared by all.
Minister Lee stated that, as a former athlete who competed in two Asian Games and earned bronze medals, he had long looked forward to this exhibition. He noted that the path of an athlete—from intense training and setbacks to perseverance and recovery—reflects many of the challenges people face in life. He encouraged the public to visit the exhibition and gain a deeper understanding of athletes’ personal stories and emotional journeys. Looking ahead to the Nagoya Asian Games this September, Minister Lee emphasized that the event is more than just an international sporting competition; it is also an opportunity for Taiwan to showcase its strengths on the global stage. Through the exhibition and the stories of sporting pioneers such as decathlete Yang Chuan-Kwang (Maysang Kalimud), visitors can revisit the moments when Taiwan earned international recognition and express their support for the nation’s athletes.
Minister of Culture Li pointed out that the exhibition presents not only athletic achievements but also the broader transformations of postwar Asia. He noted that sport serves as an important form of cultural expression and highlighted the extensive collaboration already undertaken between the MOC and the MOS. This exhibition exemplifies the two ministries’ commitment to cross-disciplinary cooperation. He further emphasized that the Asian Games provide an important lens through which to understand Taiwan’s identity and international standing. Through inter-ministerial collaboration and the professional efforts of the curatorial teams from the NMTH and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), sport is elevated beyond the playing field and news headlines to become a cultural force that fosters social dialogue.
NMTH Director Chang Lung-Chih reflected on the museum’s longstanding interest in sports history and expressed gratitude for the MOS’ strong support since the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2024. Through the assistance of the Department of History at NCKU and the National Sports Training Center, the museum has reexamined the history of the Asian Games and the life stories of athletes, ensuring that these important memories of Taiwanese sport are preserved and made visible to future generations.
The MOS noted that preserving and reinterpreting Taiwan’s sporting memory is not merely about commemorating medal-winning moments, but also about building a shared sporting heritage. Through systematic historical research, professional digital archiving of sporting artifacts, and oral history projects documenting the experiences of sporting pioneers, the MOS is gradually transforming scattered pieces of sporting history into nationally significant cultural assets. This exhibition represents an important milestone in the development of Taiwan’s sports culture and sporting heritage.
During the curatorial process, the MOS served as a key platform for interdisciplinary collaboration. By incorporating professional museum curation techniques, historical sports materials have been transformed into engaging and emotionally resonant narratives. This development symbolizes a new era in the diverse application of sports culture, in which sport serves as one of the most vibrant cultural symbols of national identity. The exhibition features nearly one hundred valuable artifacts resulting from recent efforts in historical research and nationwide artifacts inventory, including: Historic Treasures: the gold medal won by Taiwan’s football team at the 1958 Tokyo Asian Games, a bronze statue of the “Iron Man of Asia,” Yang Chuan-Kwang (Maysang Kalimud), and the running shoes of renowned track athlete Wu Ah-Min. Personal Manuscripts: original training schedules belonging to triathlon legend Wu Chin-Yun, known as the “Queen of Triathlon.” Contemporary Heroes: personal items from elite athletes, including boxing star Chen Nien-Chin, “Taiwan’s Fastest Man” Yang Chun-Han, and inline speed skater Huang Yu-Lin.
The exhibition also introduces a series of creative merchandise featuring playful contrast-themed designs, such as a grass owl transformed into a track athlete and an octopus reimagined as a boxer. These designs challenge stereotypes related to gender and physical ability while promoting the values of sports equity and inclusion. Beginning in May and June, NMTH will host a series of major public programs, including: a conversation on memorable athletics stories between national treasure Wu Ah-Min and curator Hsieh Shih-Yuan on May 10; a sharing session by tennis legend Lu Yen-Hsun on May 23, reflecting on his 20-year professional career; and a series of June events featuring discussions on mental resilience led by sports psychology coaches, behind-the-scenes stories from veteran sports broadcaster Hsu Chan-Yuan, demonstrations of traditional Central Asian wrestling (Kurash), and autograph sessions with former Asian Games women’s volleyball national team players.
The MOS warmly invites the public to visit the exhibition, celebrate Taiwan’s sporting heritage, and build collective momentum in support of the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games. “Asia on the Field: Taiwan and the Asian Games Special Exhibition” runs from now until October 18, 2026, at Gallery 2 on the fourth floor of the Exhibition and Education Building of the NMTH. For more information, please visit the museum’s official website (www.nmth.gov.tw) and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NMTH100）.