Taipei - Taiwan on Thursday expressed hope to host the 2015 World University Games and the 2017 East Asian Games as well.

Deputy Sports Minister Chen Hsien-tzung said Taipei, Taiwan's capital city, is bidding for the 2015 University Games along with South Korea's Gwangju and Canada's Edmonton.

A Taiwan delegation will fly on May 20 to Brussels to attend the International University Sports Federation's meeting where the host will be decided.

"Out strongest rival is Gwangju because this is Guangju's second bid for Universiate. Gwangju was bidding for the 2013 Universiade but failed," Chen said by phone.

Taiwan's next target is to bid to host the 2017 East Asian Games and possible a future edition of the Asian Games.

"But the Asian Games is large, so we are still evaluating if we should submit the bid," Chen said.

Chen hailed 2009 as a successful year for Taiwan sports because the island will host the World Games in July and the 2009 Summer Deaflympics - the Olympics for the deaf - in September.

"The World Games will be first multi-sports event Taiwan holds in its history and the largest international sports event held in Taiwan," he noted.

Chen hoped that the successful holding of he World Games and the Desflympics will pave the way for Taiwan to host larger international multi-sports events,

The World Games, held July 16-26 in Kaohsiung, south Taiwan, will attract some 4,500 athletes from nearly 90 countries to compete in 31 sports which are not listed in the Olympic Games.

Taiwan's national sport is baseball, the legacy from the 1895-1945 Japanese colonization, but the island is also good at karate, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, archery and pool.

When he was campaigning for presidency in March 2008, President Ma Ying-jeou unveiled his sports policy, promising to build many community sports centres and to host international multi-sports events. (dpa)