Taiwan this Month welcomes all Deaflympics athletes, coaches, assistants, family members, fans and spectators. We believe that you will find Taipei a most enjoyable city not only for the sports, but also for the many attractions and, most important, the people. Numerous citizens are volunteering their time and effort to assist all participants in the Games in any way possible.

Taipei is a vibrant city with a lot of cultural activities. We sincerely hope that you get the chance to do some exploring. The mass rapid transit system (the MRT) is the fastest and cheapest way to get around, especially during rush hour. Taxis are easily accessible, safe and cheap.

Those who are interested in shopping should check out page 32. When you are in the mood for some good food, rest assured, there is something tasty just around the corner. Please turn to page 22 for a few ideas. Taipei Places of Interest (page 30) offers a selection of ideas for worthwhile visits.

Now, back to the Games. The Taipei Deaflympics opening ceremony will be held at the Taipei Stadium Sept. 5 at 7.30 pm. Tickets are available from ERA (www.ticket.com.tw). Otherwise, entry to all competitions is free.

Spectators at the opening ceremony are in for a true treat: famous playwright and theater director Stan Lai has come up with a unique creation divided into 12 acts. These will feature well-known artists like Patina Lin and deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie. In addition, Taiwan's highly popular drum group U-Theater will perform with a group of 80 students from the Taipei School for the Hearing Impaired on 156 drums.

Once again welcome to Taipei, enjoy the Games and have fun!