On the 22nd (local time), the Korean delegation entered waving the Taegeukgi at the opening ceremony of the 10th International Abilympics held at Metz Arena in France. (Photo by Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled)
South Korea has achieved the remarkable feat of winning the International Abilympics for the seventh consecutive time.
On the 25th (local time), the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled announced on the 26th that the South Korean national team achieved their eighth overall championship and a seven-time consecutive victory at the closing ceremony of the 10th International Abilympics held at the Metz Arena in France.
South Korea won 18 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 9 bronze medals. France took second place with 10 gold, 11 silver, and 8 bronze medals, while Taiwan ranked third with 8 gold, 9 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
The competition began with the opening ceremony on the 22nd and lasted four days, featuring 420 athletes from 27 countries worldwide competing in 44 occupational categories. South Korea fielded national representatives in 34 categories.
In this competition, South Korea excelled in the traditionally strong Information Technology (IT) field, winning gold medals in 8 out of 10 categories (including computer repair, programming, data processing, etc.), surpassing strong competitors such as host country France, China, and Japan.
Additionally, the woodworking category proved its world-class status once again by winning gold medals consecutively from the 4th to the 9th competitions.
President Yoon Suk-yeol said regarding South Korea’s seventh consecutive victory, "This achievement, accomplished through your strong will and passionate dedication, will bring great hope to the people," adding, "The government will continue to firmly support the athletes so they can hone and demonstrate their top-level skills."
Minister of Employment Lee Jung-sik stated, "This great achievement of overall victory was possible thanks to the passion of the athletes who continuously challenged their limits, the dedication of the technical committee, and the support of their families," and added, "I hope this will serve as a source of confidence for many disabled workers and job seekers."
The International Abilympics began in 1981, designated by the United Nations (UN) as the "International Year of Disabled Persons," to improve the skill levels and promote the development of disabled persons. It is held every four years under the auspices of the International Abilympics Federation.
South Korea has participated in all 10 competitions, starting with the first event in Tokyo, Japan in 1981, and up to the recent event in Metz, France, achieving eight overall championships and seven consecutive victories (from the 4th to the 10th competitions), demonstrating outstanding performance.
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