Taipei, Aug. 31 (CNA) Even though he is already a happily married man, that did not stop Nels Hawkinson, deputy head of the U.S. delegation to the Taipei Universiade, from "marrying" a Taiwanese woman at a ceremony in Taipei on Thursday.
Wearing Chinese-style gold and red wedding clothes with a USA team cap, Hawkinson was all smiles as he introduced his "bride" - 92-year-old Chu Tsai-yun - to a roomful of people at The Westin Taipei hotel.
A donation ceremony was held at the hotel that day and Hawkinson represented the U.S. team in donating jerseys, caps, polo shirts, T-shirts and backpacks to Grace Home Church Association, a Taiwan non-profit organization that provides meals, shelter and other services for the poor.
Hawkinson's "bride" is not actually his bride or girlfriend, as the American jokingly called her. She is a recipient of relief from the association and Hawkinson met her last year during a charitable event in Taiwan.
Hawkinson said he was immediately taken with Chu, who he said "had joy in her heart" despite being in need.
The American joked that he and Chu had a "second date" 12 days ago during an outreach event organized by Grace Home in New Taipei. The U.S. women's soccer team attended the event and encouraged disadvantaged youngsters to turn their lives around with sports.
"I've had so many memories in my two weeks in Taiwan, and I think this will be my favorite memory," Hawkinson said of the friendship he developed with the 92-year-old Taiwanese woman.
To spice up the donation ceremony, a Taiwanese-style "wedding cake" was prepared to celebrate the friendship of Hawkinson and Chu.
Hawkinson said he first visited Taiwan in 1979 as a basketball player and instantly fell in love with the Taiwanese people.
He praised the performance of Taiwanese athletes at the Taipei Universiade, saying it is "unbelievable" and "surreal" that the team finished third in the gold medal table, beating such countries as Russia and the United States.
"You should be incredibly proud," he said.
Hawkinson, who is on his fifth trip to Taiwan in the past 18 months, said he met Edward Hsieh, head of Grace Home Church Association, during one of his trips and the two hit it off instantly and began planning outreach events where American athletes and coaches can make an impact.
Hawkinson also invited Estonia, Brazil, Canada, Switzerland and other countries to join the charitable efforts and donate their apparel and medical supplies to those in need at Grace Home. A total of 30 boxes of new clothes were donated by those countries.
At the ceremony, Hsieh thanked the U.S. delegation and said he believes that the greatness of a team is not defined by how many medals it wins at an event, but by "what they leave in the city where they compete."
"A lot of athletes last night said 'Thank you, Taipei.' But today, representing Grace Home and the people in Taiwan, I want to say 'Thank you, USA,'" he said.
