The deal - signed by CTOC President Thomas Tsai, Adecco International Olympic Committee Athlete Career Programme (IOC ACP) head Patrick Glennon and Adecco North East Asian head Cindy Chen - will see the human resources firm provide athletes with career and employment advice, as well as offering workshops, counselling and training.

Chinese double Olympic short track speed skating champion and IOC member Yang Yang and Mu-yen Chu, Chinese Taipei's Athens 2004 taekwondo gold medallist, were also at the signing of the agreement.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for CTOC to cooperate with Adecco promoting ACP," Tsai said.

"I believe future programmes will benefit our athletes a great deal.

"Also, I would like to thank Chih-Hsiung Huang, chairman of Chinese Taipei Athlete Commission, for his leadership of the Commission, and for the creative ideas and endless efforts offered by the Commission members."

The first major event to take place as part of the partnership will be a "2013 Athlete Career Guidance Seminar", taking place this weekend (November 16-17) at the National Training Centre, where Glennon and Yang will be key workshop leaders.

Adecco Taiwan will then hold its first athlete support event in Taipei early next year, providing one-on-one career counselling services for the nation's competitors that are training for the Asian Games and Olympics.

"While elite athletes may reach the finish line in their sporting careers, the IOC and IPC Athlete Career Programmes ensure that they will receive customised and professional counselling to face the challenges ahead as they transit into the workplace," Chen explained.

"The programme will provide relevant and appropriate support to those making this important change."

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