主任委員宋貞 謹代表華運會感謝所有支持者的一封信
“騰龍躍虎各顯身手 華運健兒再創佳績”，今年的運動會標語；欣逢今年中華民國建國一百零一年，新紀元繼起、大地生暉，金山灣區的僑民無不歡騰鼓舞，齊聚在這一年一度的華運盛 會，各顯身手為華人運動會再創佳績。第二十八屆金山灣區華人運動大會已於2012年7月22日上午9點在北加州洛斯阿圖市的山麓市立學院隆重登場。
今年是連續第二年接手華運會重任，內心的膠著與掙扎自不在話下，懷著戰戰兢兢的心，開始籌畫今年的華運會；籌措經費為第一考量，開始準備安排各項籌款活 動，拜會僑委會、體委會、外交部及各界翹楚，尋得大家的支持，在這要特別感謝中華民國政府的鼎力相助，使得原本忐忑的心，因得大家的支持而信心倍增。回美 後，積極尋求各界精英及賢能之士，開始籌畫華運會的活動。參訪各商業巨賈、各大社團及熱心人士、主流華人精英、主流社區領袖，開始了籌募經費的活動。
五月二十三日華運會籌款晚會，在金山灣區華僑文教中心舉行，在灣區熱心人士籌畫下，邀請到舊金山台北辦事處江國強處長，與金山灣區華僑文教服務中心呂元榮 主任、蘇上傑副主任，為今年的華運會募款。江處長在現場來賓熱烈的掌聲中，一連演唱了三首曲子〝國、台、粵〞語，展現了江處長語言的天賦，過人的歌藝，為 華運會募款助益頗豐。蘇上傑副主任畢業於臺灣政治大學，於學生時期就非常熱愛國標舞，曾經是國標舞社創社社長。在籌款晚會中，與華運會前主任委員儀容，以 一首拉丁舞，風靡了全場，為籌款晚會更增添火辣的熱鬧氣氛。在此要感謝江國強處長的鼎力支持，為華運會募款竭盡心力，也由於這次募款活動，為華運會志工夥 伴們大振士氣。 華運會聖火傳遞活動；象徵運動員精神的聖火傳遞在眾多運動員及各界領袖的引領下，從庫博蒂諾市府前傳遞到金山灣區華僑文教中心的廣場前，再傳至舊金山中國 城的駐美中華總會館，再傳至洛斯阿圖市的山麓學院，由華運會歷屆主委及僑界菁英共101位將聖火傳遞繞場並點燃聖火，揭開華運會開幕式序幕。
今年的華運會精采絕倫，參加競賽的選手大增；壘球比賽、古箏藝能競賽、保齡球比賽、籃球比賽、網球比賽、高爾夫球賽、國標舞競技大賽、桌球比賽等，分別在 各地區展開競賽活動。當天大會開幕式有多項運動競賽項目；排球比賽、中國式摔角、田徑比賽、名人競走、童軍結繩大賽、特殊兒童趣味競賽、青少年及兒童繪畫 比賽、家庭趣味遊戲、文化剪紙、華運舞台的兒童及青少年歌舞競賽、表演等。各項表演、勁歌熱舞，遊園區提供各種點心和鄉土小吃、防癌協會及醫療講座、慈濟 的愛地球隨手做環保、大愛手的愛心保健，是凝聚親情、運動、競賽、健身、歡樂、美食於一爐，讓人留下難忘的美好時光！深得僑社各界肯定的大型戶外活動。
金山灣區華人華運會開幕典禮；參加開幕式的貴賓包括專程由臺灣趕來的中華民國僑務委員會副委員長任弘、駐舊金山臺北辦事處處長江國強、加州眾議員方文忠、 聖荷西市議員朱感生夫婦、庫比蒂諾副市長馬弘利、市議員張昭富、密爾必達市長艾和諧、副市長馬修、薩拉度加市議員朱淑玲、前佛利蒙副市長曹業雲、駐美中華 總會館周達昌、金山灣區華僑文教中心主任呂元榮、副主任蘇上傑、余樹榮等人。今年開幕節目排序有美中國歌演唱、龍獅獻舞、淡江大鼓隊、健身大鼓隊、北加州 中華元極舞、美國加州排舞、新唐人樂團、太極門功夫舞，還有灣區各社團隊伍參加的大會開幕分列式。
金山灣區華人運動會從開始籌劃到各項競賽項目的進行，從和四百多位熱心義工們多日來的溝通、了解、發揮和睦、團結、全力以赴的精神，為灣區華人福祉辦好華 運會；熱心的志工是運動會成功的最關建的因素、也是最重要的推手，從籌款晚會到30個單項運動項目的籌劃、再進而策劃今天的開幕式，活動的成功是靠著所有 參與者的合作及努力所達成的。感謝新聞媒體朋友對華運會的真實報導，使得華運會得以圓滿舉辦。最後在此以12萬分感恩的心，感謝所有參與者、華運會的志工 朋友以及中華民國僑委會、體委會、外交部、駐舊金山臺北辦事處及金山灣區華僑文教服務中心的支持。有大家的支持與齊心努力，今年的華運會又一次成功、順 利、圓滿落幕。
謹祝福大家 身體健康、精神愉快、事事順心！
第二十八屆金山灣區華人運動大會 主任委員 宋 貞 敬上
Opening Remarks from the Chairwomen
Flying Dragons and Leaping Tigers---TCAAT Athletes Created Records Again.
This was our slogan for this year's TCAAT. This year happens to be year 101 of the Republic of China. A new century of the Republic of China begins. Chinese residents in the San Francisco Bay Area cheerfully gathered at the annual tournament. Our athletes did their best to create records again. The 28th TCAAT took place at Foothill College in Los Altos, California on July 22, 2012, starting 9 a.m. It was my second time to organize the tournament. I inevitably felt nervous about it. With a gingerly attitude, I thought about how to start planning this year's TCAAT. Fundraising was my first priority. I began to organize all kinds of fundraising events. I went to Taiwan to visit government officials at the Sports Affairs Council, the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, and the Foreign Ministry, as well as distinguished entrepreneurs, to gather support. Here I would give special thanks to the strong support from the Republic of China government. Everyone's support made my initially uneasy heart feel much more confident. After returning to the U.S., I actively searched for talented people to help me organize the tournament. I visited tycoons in different industries, non-profit leaders, enthusiastic volunteers, distinguished Chinese Americans who are active in mainstream society, and mainstream community leaders. Fundraising activities began.
Our fundraising dinner took place at the San Francisco Bay Area Chinese Culture Center on May 23. Our enthusiastic volunteers invited director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Mr. Chiang Kuo-Chiang, as well as director and assistant director of the Culture Center, Mr. Lu Yuan-Jung and Mr. Su Shang-Jie, to host the fundraising event with us. Mr. Chiang won a sensational applause by singing three songs in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Cantonese, respectively. He displayed his outstanding language skills and singing talent. That was greatly helpful to our fundraising event. Mr. Su graduated from Cheng-Chi University in Taiwan. He learned international ballroom dancing as a college student and created a international ballroom dancing club at his university. At our fundraising dinner event, he performed Latin dance with Yi Jung, former TCAAT committee director. They charmed the entire audience. That added to the flamboyant atmosphere of the fundraising event. Here I would like to thank them and Mr. Chiang for all their efforts. This fundraising event definitely boosted all our volunteers' morale.
The TCAAT had 30 competitions. Some had always been many Chinese residents' favorites. Others depended on sports-loving volunteers to make them happen. Enthusiastic volunteers were the key to our success. They were our most important driving force. From planning 30 competitions to organizing the fundraising dinner, to organizing today's opening ceremony, all the volunteers cooperated and put in a lot of effort to make everything happen.
Given all the previous TCAAT committee directors' legacies, and Bay Area volunteers' tireless efforts, this year's tournament was absolutely spectacular. We had more athletes to participate in all the competitions, including softball, guzheng (a Chinese string instrument), bowling, basketball, tennis, golf, international ballroom dancing, table tennis, Chinese sumo, and volleyball. The competitions had pre-contest games at different locations. When the tournament opened, the opening ceremony was followed by track and field competitions, a celebrity walking contest, children's talent shows, adolescents' and children's drawing competitions, family games, paper cutting art demonstrations, and youth singing and dancing performances.
This year's TCAAT had three new competitions which were popular with adolescents. They were: guzheng, Chinese sumo and scout knotting. The TCAAT has increased its items through the years. This year it had 30 competitions and held pre-contest games. It was a family friendly outdoor activity. On the day of the tournament, there were volleyball games, track and field games, a celebrity walk contest, swimming contests, special-ed children's games, adolescents' and children's drawing competitions, family games, paper cutting art demonstrations, and singing and dancing performances. Besides all the performances, we had booths that provided various snacks and Taiwanese appetizers. There were also lectures on cancer prevention and other health issues. The event promoted family love, exercise, competition, health, joy and good food. It gave everyone an unforgettable great time! The annual event is a large-scale outdoor activity that has been deeply appreciated by the local Chinese community.
The TCAAT has a tradition of torch passing to symbolize sportsmanship. With many athletes' and community leaders' participation, this year's TCAAT torch was passed from Cupertino to the plaza in front of the Culture Center, to San Francisco Chinatown, and then to Foothill College. All the previous TCAAT committee directors and Chinese community leaders passed the torch around the field and then ignited it to open the tournament.
The opening ceremony had many VIP guests from mainstream society including state senators and assembly members, county supervisors, mayors, city council members, distinguished Chinese Americans, Chinese community leaders, non-profit leaders and representatives. The national anthems of America and the Republic of China were both sung. There were also dragon and lion dances, as well as other dancing and drumming performances at the opening ceremony.
From planning to executing everything for the TCAAT, I worked with over 400 enthusiastic volunteers. It was their communication, understanding, harmonious relationships, team spirit and devotion that made the TCAAT a great event for the sake of Chinese residents in the Bay Area. With an extremely grateful heart, I thank all the volunteers, and the officials of the Sports Affairs Council, the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, the Foreign Ministry, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and the Culture Center, and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. With everyone's support and collaboration, this year's TCAAT successfully, smoothly and joyfully took place. May everyone stay in good health and cheerful spirits!
