New measures allow Taiwan sports circle to better share mainland opportunities

BEIJING -- The new measures unveiled by the Chinese mainland to promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation will allow the sports community in Taiwan to share the opportunities for sports development in the mainland, according to the mainland's General Administration of Sport.

The move aims to enable compatriots from Taiwan's sports community to enjoy the same treatment as those from the mainland in a broader scope and to a greater extent, the administration's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs office said in a statement.

"The measures will deepen the integrated development of sports across the Taiwan Strait and help promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," it read.

The 26 measures were introduced by the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office and the National Development and Reform Commission earlier this month.

In terms of sports, the measures include providing assistance to Taiwan athletes in their preparations for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, as well as a policy allowing athletes from Taiwan to participate in relevant professional leagues on the mainland as domestic aids.

Mainland sports associations may grant sport skill level certificates to Taiwan compatriots, according to the measures.

Relevant agencies have started to revise a regulation on the management of athletes' skill levels, which is mainly applicable to mainland athletes. The revised regulation is expected to be released early next year, according to the administration.