International sports events and national identity: the opening ceremony of the Taipei Universiade

Abstract

This article analyses the relationship between Taiwanese national identity and the opening ceremony of the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei City under the shadow of China. This event was an opportunity for Taiwan to host an international sports event and project its national identity on the global stage. Based on Critical Discourse Analysis, this article explores how national identity was a fundamental narrative in the opening ceremony, one which showcased Taiwan as a single territory enriched by a process of historic transformation and modernization, and one with significant aboriginal roots. This article analyses how the discourse of the opening ceremony sought to establish ideas of national cohesion based on a narrow vision of identity. The article concluded that the opening ceremony, significantly influenced by the international context, was designed to showcase a unique and distinct Taiwanese identity.