Next Year's Jeonnam Sports Festival 'See You in Wando'

First Jeonnam Sports Festival Held in Wando, Expected to Boost Local Economy

Jeonnam Wando-gun, awarded the entrance prize at the 61st Jeonnam Sports Festival. Photo by Wando-gun provided

[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyungpil] The 2023 Jeollanam-do Sports Festival will be held in Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do.

On the 24th, according to the county, at the closing ceremony of the 61st Jeollanam-do Sports Festival, Acting Wando County Governor Kang Seong-woon received the Jeonnam Sports Festival flag from Acting Suncheon Mayor Son Jeom-sik, announcing that Wando will be the host of the next festival.

In March last year, the county was finally selected as the host for the 62nd Jeollanam-do Sports Festival, the 31st Jeollanam-do Disabled Sports Festival, and the 2024 Jeollanam-do Sports for All Grand Festival.

After receiving the festival flag that day, a promotional video introducing Wando’s history, tourism, culture, as well as the county’s key projects such as marine healing and athletes produced by Wando like Choi Kyung-joo and Cha Yu-ram was presented, receiving great responses from athletes and spectators.

Acting Wando County Governor Kang Seong-woon said, “We are working hard on building various facilities including a multipurpose indoor gymnasium to ensure the successful hosting of the 62nd Jeollanam-do Sports Festival,” adding, “We will devote ourselves to preparing the festival so that athletes can compete without inconvenience and achieve good results.”

During the 61st Jeollanam-do Sports Festival, Wando operated a promotional center in key sections of Palma Gymnasium and is accelerating preparations by monitoring and benchmarking the overall festival operation.

With large-scale events held over two years from 2023 to 2024, about 50,000 participants, officials, and cheering squads are expected to visit Wando, which is anticipated to greatly contribute to revitalizing the local economy.

Meanwhile, the Wando County Sports Council participated in the 61st Jeollanam-do Sports Festival, winning 4 gold medals and 3 silver medals, and the provincial team received the best entrance award (1st place).

The gold medals were won by weightlifting male athletes Lee Yang-jae (+109kg category), Kim Jun (81kg category), female athlete Lim Jeong-hee (+87kg category), and taekwondo female athlete Jang Yoo-jin (-73kg category). Silver medals were won by weightlifting male athlete Kim Hyun-ho (89kg category), female athlete Son Jeong-hee (64kg category), and in the tennis team event.

Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyungpil ckp6737@asiae.co.kr