National Athletic Trainers' Association
Media Contact:
Ellen Satlof (214) 637-6282, ext. 159
www.nata.org

MIKE HUANG APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTER OF
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS IN TAIWAN

DALLAS, AUGUST 30 -- Chi-Huang "Mike" Huang, PED, ATC, a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) International Committee since 1996, and the NATA International Affair Task Force from 1994-1996, was named deputy minister of the National Council on Physical Fitness & Sports in Taiwan. The Council is the highest administrative unit within the government, and is the country’s policy making body for all sports-related affairs.

Huang will be responsible for overseeing two of the Council’s five divisions -- Competitive Athletics, which focuses on the training and development of Taiwan’s top athletes; and International Affairs, which involves international-related matters and sports funding for international activities and competition. Prior to his appointment, Huang was a professor and dean of Student Affairs at the National College of Physical Education & Sports in Taiwan.

“I will work on pushing an Athletic Training Act through Taiwan’s legislature to make sure there is a way for our public schools to hire athletic trainers to provide care to our young athletes,” says Huang. “I need to educate the people here that the profession of athletic training is a valid allied health profession that can provide sound care to active individuals.”

Looking ahead to 2009 when Taiwan will host the World Games, Huang believes human resources will become crucial. “That is why I see myself devoting our efforts in fostering professional personnel in sports,” he says.

A related goal of Huang’s is to strengthen the overall competitiveness of Taiwan’s athletes at the international level. “I spent six years at Indiana University and worked with one of the best athletic programs in the U.S. I know what it takes to be competitive in athletics.”