Department of Cultural Affairs

Training with the 101-Year-Old World’s Oldest Badminton Player

The 2025 World Masters Games, co-hosted by Taipei and New Taipei City, is now open for registration. Event mascot, Strong, was named after an online Mandarin naming contest that attracted nearly 2,000 participants. 

After careful deliberation, the name “Strong” was chosen by Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang and New Taipei City Mayor Yu-Ih Hou. On May 9, the two mayors presided over Strong’s official unveiling and traded banter with You-Mao Lin, the world’s oldest badminton player.

The 2025 World Masters Games are coming, said Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang. The mascot design was inspired by the shape of the character 北 (“north”) and symbolizes the two northern city hosts, Taipei and New Taipei City. 

Competition venues are spread across six counties and cities. Mayor Chiang expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in planning the World Masters Games, including New Taipei City Mayor Hou and his team. 

Mayor Chiang also mentioned that over 10,000 people have already registered, and that the 30% early-bird discount has extended until June 17. Anyone over 30 years old can register and compete alongside international athletes. All are welcome.

Expected to attract 40,000 participants, the 2025 World Masters Games is anticipated to be the largest sports event in Taiwan’s history, said New Taipei City Mayor Yu-Ih Hou. The mascot is a way to communicate with the public and convey the event’s ethos. As a symbol of cooperation between Taipei and New Taipei City, the mascot design incorporates the character 北 (“north”) and the slogan No Boundaries in Sports, Infinite Possibilities in Life.

Strong’s name derives from the Chinese for “master”, 壯年 (pronounced zhuàngnián). The Chinese nickname 壯寶 (Zhuang Bao) combines the same word zhuàng with 寶 (bǎo), meaning “treasure”, meaning the mascot is the “treasure” of the event. The charming character is coloured blue for trust, calmness and unity, and pink for passion and vitality. 

Guinness World Record holder 101-year-old You-Mao Lin has registered for the World Masters Games. Lin loves sport, especially badminton, which he has played for over 40 years. He has won the Taiwan Morning Cup Badminton Contest (臺灣清晨盃羽球賽) 40 times in a row and even traveled abroad for badminton competitions. Lin is currently training hard for the World Masters in the hope of winning another gold medal. 

The May 9 press conference saw many foreign diplomats expressing their support for the event and promising to help promote the 2025 World Masters Games.

The World Masters Games will take place from May 17 to 30, 2025, and will feature 35 sports (including 9 Para categories). Anyone 30 years old and above can register, with no upper age limit. All sports enthusiasts are warmly encouraged to take part. 

Participants can also take the time to enjoy a spot of sightseeing during the games. The event will combine international exchange, cultural experience, and tourism, and is expected to attract nearly 30,000 athletes and 10,000 accompanying personnel from over 110 countries, boosting sports tourism and creating significant tourism benefits for Taiwan. 

Registration is now open, with a 30% discount available until June 17. Sports lovers from around the world are encouraged to challenge themselves and shoot for their goals. For more details, visit the 2025 World Masters Games website: https://wmg2025.tw/zh-tw/home.