Over 10,000 Athletes from 22 City and County Teams
Fierce Competition in 16 Events
The 62nd Gyeongbuk Provincial Sports Festival will open on the 10th at the Gumi Citizens' Stadium under the slogan "New Hope in Gumi, the Power of a United Gyeongbuk," kicking off four days of intense competition.
More than 11,000 athletes from 22 cities and counties will participate in the festival, competing for medals in 30 city events and 16 county events.
To ensure the 62nd Provincial Sports Festival is conducted safely and successfully, Gumi City has thoroughly reviewed all areas including competitions, festivals, and safety. The city plans to offer various cultural events and abundant entertainment to captivate the eyes and ears of the residents.
In this festival, Gyeongbuk Province and Gumi City have jointly established the "Multi-Child Happiness 2.1 Zone" on both sides of the VIP seats to raise social awareness about multi-child families and foster a child-friendly social atmosphere.
Before the opening ceremony, a pre-event featured the popular "National TOP10 Gayo Show," known for its lively trot performances, creating a festive mood, followed by a traditional performance (Yukgomu) by the Gumi City Dance Troupe that captivated the audience.
The official ceremony, attended by Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, key guests from Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, and sports officials, will proceed with the athletes' entrance, welcome performances, opening declaration by Yoon Sang-hoon, President of the Gumi City Sports Council, welcome address by Kim Jang-ho, Mayor of Gumi, raising of the tournament flag, opening speech by Kim Jeom-du, President of the Gyeongbuk Sports Council, congratulatory speech by Governor Lee Cheol-woo, reading of the Sports Charter, guest congratulatory speeches, athletes' oath by representatives, torch relay video and lighting.
The highlight of the day, the torch lighting, will feature the torch relay inside the stadium by representatives of professional teams and young sports talents, the joint lighting of the torch by Governor Lee Cheol-woo and Mayor Kim Jang-ho, and the final lighting by a member of the sports family who received the torch, creating the climax of the opening ceremony.
The torch lit that day was originally ignited at the grassy plazas of Tohamsan and Geumosan in Gyeongju, then toured through 25 towns, townships, and neighborhoods of Gumi City. During this period, citizens from all walks of life participated in the relay event, expressing their hopes for the successful hosting of the 62nd Gyeongbuk Provincial Sports Festival.
Following the torch lighting that signals the official start of the tournament, a media art show and multimedia show symbolizing the image of Gumi City, along with a dazzling performance by 1,000 drones, will be presented, gifting unforgettable memories to local residents, athletes, and spectators attending the opening ceremony.
In the post-ceremony event, top domestic singers Jang Min-ho, Lee Chan-won, Zion.T, Hi-Ki, and Kwon Eun-bi will perform spectacular stages, culminating in a grand fireworks display to mark the finale of the event.
During the tournament, various art and photography exhibitions will be planned and displayed around the Gumi Citizens' Stadium to create a festive atmosphere. Additionally, exhibition and sales booths for agricultural and livestock products from the 22 cities and counties, along with promotional halls, will be set up to actively promote the region’s excellent agricultural specialties and tourism resources.
Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongbuk stated, “The Provincial Sports Festival has been a solid foundation for Gyeongbuk’s excellent performance at the National Sports Festival every year,” adding, “We will foster the sports industry and strive to expand regional sports infrastructure so that young athletes and sportspeople can demonstrate their abilities and enhance competitiveness in better environments.”
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