Chang Chia-chun, Candidate for Yunlin County Magistrate, Plans Dasiro National Sports Center

Chang Chia-chun held a policy press conference today, attended by Wu Kuo-tai, chairman of the Yunlin County Sihuhu Township Pickleball Association, and several Yunlin County councilors. Chang Chia-chun stated that in the face of increasing health awareness and an aging population, sports are no longer just physical competitions, but also important platforms connecting health promotion, emerging sports industries, and social values. Therefore, she proposed two major sports policy axes: the construction of the Dasiro National Sports Center and the promotion of pickleball through the "one pickleball court per township" initiative. Chang Chia-chun noted that the Douliu National Sports Center in the county has been activated, and the Dounan, Huwei, and Beigang National Sports Centers are under construction. However, the Dasiro area, with a population of nearly 100,000, has long been affected by strong winds and climate along the Zhuoshui River, making outdoor sports conditions unstable. An indoor sports venue is needed to allow different generations to find suitable sports activities in the same space. Chang Chia-chun believes that pickleball has a low entry barrier, is easy to learn, and is highly social, making it one of the fastest-growing sports globally. It helps shape a sports culture and can serve as an important medium for strengthening community connections and interpersonal interactions. Regarding the promotion mechanism for the "Dasiro National Sports Center," she proposed three major strategies: county government budget allocation, introduction of private participation, and acceleration of administrative procedures. She pledged that upon election, she would immediately initiate land inventory and overall planning, prioritizing the use of public land or idle school grounds to shorten construction time and transform the policy from blueprint into concrete results. According to the Chinese Taipei Pickleball Association website, pickleball is a racket sport combining features of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The court size is similar to badminton, the net height is about that of a tennis net, the paddles are like enlarged table tennis paddles, and the ball is plastic. Due to its simple rules and suitability for all ages, it has become a global craze in recent years. (Edited by Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150407