Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said that various countries' national flags flying at the stadium shows that Taiwan is a country of freedom and democracy.

'We want to make friends with the whole world while at the same time safeguard our dignity,' she said. 'I urge Taiwanese to unite and fight for Taiwan's success.'

At the entrance to the stadium, some Taiwanese held up placards declaring 'Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China,' 'Taiwan is an Independent Country.'

The World Games, held every four years, feature 30 sports that are not included in the Olympic Games plus several invitational sports. They include martial arts, artistic roller skating,

life-saving, body building, billiards and tug-of-war.

Some 4,800 athletes from 105 countries and regions took part in the World Games in Kaohsiung which began on July 16.

Russia was the most successful country with 47 medals (including 18 gold), followed by Italy's 41 (17), China's 29 (14), the United States' 26 (13), Ukraine's 33 (11), France's 38 (10), Taiwan's 24 (8) and Germany's 22 (6).