Held Across Gyeongsangbuk-do from the 28th to 31st
A Total of 36 Events, 11,690 Athletes Participating
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 26th that the 51st National Youth Sports Festival will be held from the 28th to the 31st in Gumi City and other areas of North Gyeongsang Province in cooperation with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Photo by Korean Sport & Olympic Committee
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The National Youth Sports Festival, which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume after three years.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 26th that, together with the Korean Sports Council, it will hold the 51st National Youth Sports Festival from the 28th to the 31st in Gumi City and other areas in North Gyeongsang Province. This event will be held normally for the first time in three years following the lifting of social distancing measures and the gradual return to daily life.
Started in 1972, the National Youth Sports Festival, now in its 51st edition, has contributed to discovering outstanding student athletes, nurturing future Olympians, and revitalizing school sports.
This year, under the slogan "Dreaming Gyeongsangbuk-do! Hopeful Republic of Korea," a total of 17 cities and provinces nationwide will participate with 17,886 athletes and officials aged under 13 and under 16.
The event will follow principles such as no opening or closing ceremonies, minimizing weekday competitions for each sport, and requiring arrival one day before the competition (prohibiting arrival 2-3 days in advance) to ensure the students' right to study. Additionally, medal rankings by city or province will not be tallied, and only individual awards per sport will be presented to prevent excessive competition between regions and to create a harmonious environment for all participants.
Furthermore, outside the competition venues, various experiential events such as sport trials, professional athlete invitation lessons, and national team autograph sessions will be held so that not only participating athletes but also general students can enjoy the sports festival. Detailed information on the schedule, venues, and match brackets for each sport can be found on the National Youth Sports Festival website.
A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, "As the National Youth Sports Festival is a stage to learn about and experience the world of sports and to nurture dreams, we hope that student athletes will improve their performance through this event and fully demonstrate the skills they have honed."
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