Unboxing Old Photos: Kaohsiung World Games Ushers in a New Chapter of Urban Transformation

On the evening of July 16, 2009, the 8th World Games officially opened in Kaohsiung, setting first-time records in the number of participating nations, delegation size, and investment. Breaking tradition, a large-scale main stadium was specially constructed for the event.

Spanning over 19 hectares and accommodating more than 40,000 people, the stadium was designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, inspired by the themes of 'the ocean' and 'vitality.' Its roof is covered with 8,844 solar panels, integrating natural ventilation and daylighting, shimmering under the bright southern Taiwan sun.

The main stadium achieved four world firsts: the world's first sports venue with a 1-megawatt solar power capacity, the world's first open-mouthed dome stadium, Taiwan's first stadium meeting IAAF international standards for track and field, and at the time, the world's largest single-building solar photovoltaic power generation system.

This marked the first time the World Games, inaugurated in Santa Clara, USA in 1981, was held outside Europe, North America, or Japan. After Kaohsiung was selected as host in June 2004, the city spent five years on cultural and landscape transformations, enlisting Taiwan's pride, MLB pitcher Wang Chien-ming, as ambassador.

Following the Games, the main stadium was renamed the National Stadium. In recent years, with active promotion by the Kaohsiung City Government and the Kaohsiung Music Center, international superstars such as Mayday, Rain, K-pop groups BLACKPINK and TWICE, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Take That have all performed there.

Kaohsiung has transformed from a historic port city into a 'City of Concerts,' attracting millions of domestic and international music fans annually and generating over ten billion NT dollars in direct economic output and tourism revenue.

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