First Normal Hosting Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
National Youth Sports Festival and Disabled Students Sports Festival... Held in May in 12 Cities and Counties Including Gumi-si
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Dong-guk] Gyeongbuk Province will host the 51st National Youth Sports Festival (hereinafter ‘Youth Sports Festival’) and the 16th National Disabled Students Sports Festival (hereinafter ‘Disabled Students Sports Festival’) under the slogan “Dreaming Gyeongsangbuk-do, Hopeful Republic of Korea” in May, centered around Gumi and the Gyeongbuk region.
The Disabled Students Sports Festival will open on May 17 at the Gumi Park Chung-hee Gymnasium and continue until the 20th, held across 8 cities and counties in the region, with about 4,000 athletes and officials participating in 17 events.
From May 28 to 31, the Youth Sports Festival will be held in 11 cities and counties, with about 17,000 elementary and middle school athletes and officials participating in 36 events.
Gyeongbuk Province has organized the event committee and established a comprehensive plan, including setting up a situation room, a general information center, recruiting volunteers, and preparing transportation, traffic, and accommodation measures for the teams.
In cooperation with the Fire Department Headquarters, fire prevention training and on-site inspections of stadium facilities are being conducted to ensure a safe and smooth festival.
On the 28th of this month, Governor Lee Cheol-woo will preside over a preparation status briefing on the second floor of the Gumi Complex Sports Center, checking the progress of each department with related officials such as the provincial sports association president and the mayor of Gumi, and discussing current issues including the opening ceremony, traffic, emergency medical care, and athlete safety.
On the same day, a success prayer event for the festival will be held at the Gumi Park Chung-hee Gymnasium as the first step toward phased daily recovery.
Starting with a pre-ceremony performance by the provincial art troupe, the event atmosphere will be elevated through a success prayer performance and concerts by famous singers, actively creating a festival boom.
This Youth Sports Festival and Disabled Students Sports Festival are significant as the first normal hosting since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 event and the dispersed hosting in 2021, this festival is expected to be like rain in a drought for promising athletes who have been thirsty for attention to youth sports and the cheers of spectators.
Kim Sang-cheol, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said, “The successful hosting of this national youth (disabled students) sports festival will be a signal for phased daily recovery,” adding, “We will thoroughly prepare to revitalize the sports community, which has been greatly depressed due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, and at the same time help activate the local economy.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
