BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland will send a sports delegation to participate in the 2009 World Games to be held in Kaohsiung, a southern coastal city of Taiwan.

    Liu Peng, chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), said athletes from nine associations of the COC will compete in the games.

    He made the promise during his meeting with Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu in Beijing Friday.

    The mainland will also send an observation delegation to the games, Liu said, adding that sports is a medium and bridge which connects people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    Chen Chu said her delegation hoped to learn from the successful experience of the Beijing Olympic Games.

    She led a promotion team for the 2009 World Games to the mainland on Thursday. The games will be held from July 16 to 26.