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Description
For the first time, the East Asian Youth Games, formerly the East Asian Games, were scheduled to be held in Taichung of Taiwan in 2019 following four years of preparation. However, Taichung's hosting rights were revoked by the East Asian Olympic Committee on July 24, 2018. Why was the 2019 EAYG - one of the few international sporting events in which Taiwan won the bid - cancelled? Did the preparations run behind schedule? Were there any other factors involved? This study conducted its analysis of the issue using Kingdon's Multiple Streams Model, which depicts the interplay of three streams - problems, policies and politics. Semi-structured interviews were held with 15 senior members of EAYG bidding team, EAYG Organizing Committee, EAOC, Taichung City Government, Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and the group of the Name Rectification Campaign. According to this research, we found that the Chinese Olympic Committee has exercised de facto control over the EAOC. The so-called Olympic protocol, which has been in effect for 40 years, laid the foundation for China's mechanism of mutual trust with Taiwan. It is imperative to note that Taiwan's internal attempts to break away from the Olympic protocol negatively affected China's perception of Taiwan as a mega-event host. In 2018, a convergence of three streams on the Olympic protocol issue led to the demise of the 2019 EAYG. This study presents a unique case analysis that may serve as an experience and a historical lesson for other countries seeking to host mega sporting events.
