Beijing asserted its place on the world stage last summer with an eye-popping opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in its landmark Bird's Nest stadium, followed by epic performances by international athletes such as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt.
Taiwan is hoping to turn a similar trick when it hosts the World Games at the port city of Kaohsiung this week. However, the odds are long that Taiwan will be able to use the quadrennial games – an affiliate of the Olympics for sports not included in the main event such as squash, canoe polo and fistball – as effectively.
The World Games will be launched in an innovative open-ended, solar-powered stadium designed by a Japanese architect. Anchored by the $145m (£89m, €104m) stadium, Taiwan is investing far more in the games than the previous seven hosts. The games are the largest global event held in Taiwan in decades following years of isolation. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province.