Taipei Travel

Visit Bravo’s Home
“Ready to Go! Bravo!” Special Exhibition

Article｜Chang Huanpeng
Photos｜2017 Taipei Summer Universiade Executive Committee

Taipei, this beautiful city, contains many fascinating things to investigate and peruse. If you want to know more about historical development, achievements in construction, human culture or scientific achievements, you must visit the Discovery Center of Taipei (台北探索館). The Center first opened nearly 15 years ago, and is usually the first stop for domestic and foreign tourists who want to know Taipei better. It’s also a stimulating exhibition hall where parents and children alike can visit and learn.
“Ready to Go! Bravo!” (站上起跑點) is being presented now at the Discovery Center of Taipei’s Special Exhibition Hall. Through virtual reality technology such as augmented reality and interactive multimedia, people can learn about the different sports of the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade. In this exhibit, you will see more of the everyday life of the Universiade ambassador, Bravo. There is also competition memorabilia and medals won by elite Taiwanese athletes such as Hsu Shuching, Tai Tzuying (戴資穎) and Kuo Hsingchun (郭婞淳).

▲  The table tennis player, Chiang Hungchieh visits the “Ready to Go! Bravo!” Special Exhibition at the Discovery Center Of Taipei and has his picture taken with Bravo. (Photo: 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade Executive Committee)

Interactive Multimedia and Augmented Reality
“Wow! This is Bravo’s home.” Kids will surely scream this when they see the super-popular mascot. In the exhibit, in addition to the installation depicting Bravo riding a YouBike, there are such items as Bravo’s office desk, photos of him promoting Universiade, and a variety of sports equipment. Through interactive technology, visitors can exercise with Bravo and even take a selfie with the little fellow!
According to the Taipei City Government Department of Information and Tourism’s City Tourism Division(台北市政府觀光傳播局) , there are four interactive areas employing multimedia and augmented reality at the exhibit: Bravo’s Home, Little Broadcast Director, Augmented Reality – AR Bravo, and the Athlete’s Calorie Supply Station. For example, in the area called Little Broadcast Director, a participant experiences what it’s like to direct a broadcast of the hurdles competition while sitting in the TV van outside the stadium. It’s all virtual reality, of course, but the “director” will be able to select from different camera angles to let the audience see different aspects of the race!
“AR Bravo” uses cutting-edge augmented-reality to let visitors make Bravo jump out of the screen, lift weights, and even cheerlead – just by holding a sensor tablet in front of the screen. At the “Athlete’s Calorie Supply Station,” you will see Bravo on the screen in chef’s garb, introducing swimming, fencing, rhythmic gymnastics and other sports – while providing useful information about sports and calories.

▲  The weightlifter, Kuo Hsingchun meets adorable Bravo at Bravo’s home. (Photo: 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade Executive Committee)

Major Athletes of the Universiade
This static exhibit is well worth seeing. The display includes the first Olympic Silver Medal won by Taiwanese weightlifter Hsu Shuching (It was later promoted to Gold by the International Olympic Committee). There is also the Silver Medal won by track and field athlete, Wang Hueichen (王惠珍) at the British Universiade, the recurve bow used by Tan Yating (譚雅婷) for the Gold Medal women’s archery team of the Gwangju Universiade, Su Liwen’s (蘇麗文) name-embroidered black belt and doll she received for winning gold at the Bangkok Universiade, and the badminton racket and sports shoes of world women’s badminton champion, Tai Tzuying. All these treasured keepsakes all come with their own stories.
“Taiwanese athletes are amazing,” says sports fan, Miss Chen. Seeing her idols’ medals and gear up close thrills and moves her no end. She now sees just how much hardship came before every moment of athletic glory.
The “Ready to Go! Bravo!” Special Exhibition invites everyone to the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade. By presenting Bravo’s life, the organizers hope to attract tourists, parents and children to learn more about sports. The interactive multimedia devices also add more fun to the experience. By making known the stories and training processes of the athletes, the organizers hope to encourage people to join the Universiade at the starting gate, and cheer on Taiwan’s heroes!

“Ready to Go! Bravo!” Special Exhibition
09:00~17:00, Tue~Sun, free admission (Closed on Mondays and National Holidays)
Discovery Center of Taipei’s Special Exhibition Hall; 2F, 1, City Hall Rd. 
(台北探索館特展廳；市府路1號2樓)
1999 (02-27208889 outside Taipei City); ext. 8630