"Republic of Korea Runs Again with Gyeongnam... National Sports Festival START, New Era of Sports Competition"

Successful National (Disabled) Sports Festival, Together with Yangsan Citizens

Yangsan City, Gyeongnam Province, announced that its citizens will join efforts to ensure the successful hosting of the 105th National Sports Festival and the 44th National Para Games, both scheduled for October.

Poster of the 105th National Sports Festival and the 44th National Para Sports Festival.

This year’s National (Para) Sports Festival, which will once again deliver the passion and excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be held in Gyeongnam Province for the first time in 14 years. Under the theme "Korea Running Again with Gyeongnam," the main host city of Gimhae and 17 other cities and counties in Gyeongnam will participate together.

The torch relay, marking the start of the National Sports Festival, will depart from the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office on the 7th, travel through 13 cities and counties, and arrive in Yangsan on the 10th after passing through Haman, Changnyeong, and Miryang.

On October 10, the torch, relayed from Miryang, will be welcomed on the stage at Yangsan City Hall, accompanied by a variety of cultural events.

The torch, starting from Yangsan City Hall, will pass through the southern and central districts of Yangsan (Course 1: Yangsan City Hall?Nambu Intersection, Course 2: Tteulanchae Apartment?Emart, Course 3: Yangsan Station?Yeongdae Bridge Intersection) before heading to Gimhae, the host city, to mark the grand opening of the festival.

In Yangsan, four National Sports Festival events will be held: baseball/softball (women’s general division, 12 teams; women’s under-18 division, 7 teams), table tennis (all divisions, 72 teams), bowling (men’s and women’s university division, 90 participants; men’s and women’s general division, 132 participants), and hapkido (under-18 division, 153 participants; general division, 168 participants). For the National Para Games, two events will take place: boccia (178 participants) and taekwondo (102 participants).

Notably, in the table tennis event at Yangsan Gymnasium, the Yangsan City Hall women’s table tennis team will represent Gyeongnam Province in the women’s general division.

Yangsan City has completed all preparations for the National (Para) Sports Festival by September, including stadium renovations, and plans to provide full support so that athletes and spectators can enjoy the best possible environment for competition and viewing.

To ensure a successful festival, Yangsan City has recruited 300 citizen supporters and 200 volunteers. They will assist with event operations, guide spectators, and promote the festival, further energizing the National (Para) Sports Festival.

In addition, the festival is expected to boost tourism in Yangsan and greatly benefit the local economy. As more visitors come for various sports events and to explore tourist attractions, local businesses such as accommodation and restaurants are expected to thrive.

Mayor Na Dongyeon stated, “The voluntary participation and support of citizens will be a great driving force behind the successful hosting of the National (Para) Sports Festival. Yangsan City will spare no effort to ensure that both athletes and spectators remember this as the best National (Para) Sports Festival ever.”

Information about the 105th National Sports Festival and the 44th National Para Games can be found on the official website.