Minister Ljaucu Zingrur of the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) traveled to Sandimen Township and Chunri Township in Pingtung County today (June 1) to attend the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Sandimen Township Chairperson Cup Volleyball Tournament and the 2026 Chunri Township Games. Minister Ljaucu Zingrur emphasized that community events such as these are not only arenas for competitive sports, but important spaces for strengthening community bonds and preserving indigenous culture.

The Minister arrived in the morning at the Sandimen Township Multi-Purpose Sports Complex to cheer on the athletes participating in the volleyball tournament. He noted that volleyball is highly popular among the communities of Sandimen Township, and that the teamwork and determination displayed by the players reflect the indigenous spirit of mutual support and shared prosperity. In recent years, the CIP has actively invested resources to improve community sports facilities and has continued to implement various support programs to enhance the quality of local competitions, providing athletes with better conditions for training and competitions.

The Minister later traveled to Chunri Township to attend the opening ceremony of the Township Games. In addition to ball games and track and field events, the program also featured traditional competitions such as timber sawing and millet pounding, and a community market. Minister Ljaucu Zingrur stated that the Chunri Township Games feature a diverse program that skillfully combines modern sports with traditional cultural practices, making the event a meaningful initiative for cultural preservation. Seeing participation from elders to young children throughout the community and witnessing such strong community bonds was deeply encouraging.

Minister Ljaucu Zingrur further explained that in order to enhance the international competitiveness of indigenous athletes, the CIP implemented the Indigenous Elite Athlete Advancement Program and the Indigenous Potential Elite Athlete Development Program in 2025. These programs provide training and competition support, helping athletes steadily develop their competitive abilities while identifying promising new talent and supporting their continued advancement toward international competitions.

Over the past year, many indigenous athletes, including Chang Po-Ya, Yang Yung-Wei, Yang Chun-Han, and Lin Tzu-Chieh, have achieved outstanding results in major domestic and international competitions in track and field, weightlifting, archery, shooting, boxing, judo, and taekwondo. Their achievements not only demonstrate the resilience and strength of indigenous sporting talent, but continue to bring honor to Taiwan on the international stage. Minister Ljaucu Zingrur expressed his gratitude to the teams of the Sandimen Township Office and Chunri Township Office for their planning efforts, as well as to all staff members and officials whose dedication ensured the successful staging of the events.

Minister Ljaucu Zingrur emphasized that the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) will continue to serve as a strong supporter of sports development in indigenous communities. Through funding support and improved talent development pathways, the CIP will encourage more gifted indigenous young people to pursue competitive sports and showcase the resilience and confidence of indigenous peoples on the international sporting stage.