"Feel the Waves! Enjoy Pohang" Held from 11th to 14th at Yeongildae and Songdo Beaches
4 Official Events Including Yacht and Canoe, 6 Exhibition Events Including Sea Swimming and Jet Ski
Pohang City will host the "16th National Marine Sports Festival" from the 11th to the 14th at Yeongildae Beach and Songdo Beach under the theme "Feel the Waves! Enjoy Pohang."
Promotional poster for the 16th National Marine Sports Festival.
The National Marine Sports Festival is a comprehensive domestic marine sports festival where participants compete in official and exhibition events and can directly experience various marine leisure sports. It was originally scheduled to be held in Pohang in 2021 but was canceled due to the spread of COVID-19 and is now being held again after two years.
Hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and organized by Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province, this event allows participation not only from professional athletes but also from enthusiasts, students, and the general public. Various experience programs for tourists will also be operated.
This year’s competition features four official events?yachting, canoeing, fin swimming, and triathlon?and seven exhibition events including sea swimming and jet skiing, with about 3,000 athletes showcasing their skills.
In addition, diverse experience programs such as the marine culture contest "Sea Love Acrostic Poem," the "Sea Scenery 3-Shot Photo Zone," and "RC Yacht Experience" will be held. A flea market in front of the Yeongildae pavilion is also expected to add to the fun.
Especially on the first day, the 11th, a large-scale maritime parade expressing the wishes of Pohang citizens for the successful hosting of the Marine Sports Festival will take place from Songdo to the temporary disembarkation pier in front of the Yeongildae maritime pavilion.
Through this festival, Pohang City plans to declare itself as the "Central City of the East Sea and the Capital of Marine Leisure Sports," and use this opportunity to raise the recognition of Pohang as a marine city while significantly strengthening urban marketing to increase tourist inflow.
Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, "We expect this Marine Sports Festival to play a major role in revitalizing marine leisure sports and fostering related industries as Pohang leaps forward as the 'Central City of the East Sea and the Capital of Marine Leisure Sports,' as well as invigorating the local economy. We will do our utmost to ensure this is the best Marine Sports Festival ever, highlighting Pohang’s unique characteristics through thorough preparation."
Detailed schedules, side events, and experience programs can be found on the "16th National Marine Sports Festival" website.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
