[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] First Lady Kim Jung-sook sent an encouraging message to the South Korean delegation participating in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics, saying, "Now is the time for each and every one of you to shine."
On the afternoon of the 29th, at the Paralympic South Korean delegation send-off ceremony held at the Icheon Training Center in Gyeonggi Province, First Lady Kim delivered a video message, stating, "I hope you can enjoy the Paralympics of harmony and solidarity, where you encourage each other every time you fall and get back up, and celebrate each other's achievements," she said.
Quoting Dr. Stephen Hawking's words that "no matter how hard life is, everyone has the power to achieve something special," she expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for overcoming countless obstacles in the world and coming this far."
She continued, "The time you have each eagerly awaited has now come for each of you to shine," adding, "Athletes who have fiercely strived to reach their best selves in their own ways and at their own pace, according to their individual differences, are already winners in the game of life."
First Lady Kim recalled her experience during the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics, saying she truly felt the saying, "Heroes are born at the Olympics, and heroes compete at the Paralympics," and stated, "I support the Paralympics with the entire nation, where you can meet proud people who have given their all without fearing their limits."
The South Korean delegation to the Tokyo Summer Paralympics will consist of 86 athletes and 72 support staff, totaling 158 members, competing in archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, cycling, judo, weightlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis. They are scheduled to be dispatched from August 18 to September 6.
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