The 44th National Disabled Sports Festival Opens... Over 9,800 Athletes Continue the Spirit of the National Sports Festival

The 44th National Disabled Sports Festival opened on the afternoon of the 25th at the main stadium of the event, Gyeongnam Gimhae Sports Complex.

Under the theme "Sail To The Future with a Vibrant Wind," the opening ceremony was attended by 9,806 athletes and residents, including delegations from 17 cities and provinces nationwide and overseas Korean athletes.

The 44th National Disabled Sports Festival opened at the Gimhae Sports Complex in Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gimhae City Hall]

The opening ceremony began with a performance of Aranggogo Janggu, a trot performance by singer Bae Jin-ah from Gyeongnam, and a choir by the Gyeongnam Provincial Art Troupe, followed by the athletes' entrance, raising of the tournament flag, oath-taking by athlete and referee representatives, theme performances, and the lighting of the torch.

Following the performance by the Gayagochidae, which expressed the spirit and bravery of the Gaya people, the city emblem of the main host city Gimhae, the entering athletes pledged to continue the passionate competition of the National Sports Festival.

The theme performances included ▲a joint performance by a dance troupe of intellectually disabled and non-disabled dancers ▲a drawing performance using virtual reality (VR) ▲a 360-degree rotating wheelchair performance, delivering messages of support, empathy, and harmony for athletes overcoming disabilities and prejudices.

The torch was carried in sequence by Kang Wae-taek, the first-place winner in the men's club throw F32 (athlete division) at the 43rd National Disabled Sports Festival from Changwon; Ahn Il-jun, president of the Gyeongsangnam-do Disabled Showdown Association; Heo Seon-sil, second place in the women's individual all-around at the 2023 World Deaf Bowling Championships from Uiryeong; Lee Ho-jun, two-time men's weightlifting champion at the 43rd National Disabled Sports Festival from Gimhae; and Joo Young-dae, gold medalist in table tennis at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics from Jinju, who carried the torch to the cauldron.

The torchbearer of the 44th National Disabled Sports Festival is transferring the flame to the cauldron.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Governor Park Wan-su said in his welcoming speech at the opening ceremony, "I send infinite respect and praise to the athletes who stand proudly here, overcoming limits through indomitable challenges," adding, "I hope this event becomes a turning point for a new culture of disabled sports where the values of harmony and respect, understanding, and empathy shine brilliantly."

The 44th National Disabled Sports Festival will be held over six days from the 25th to the 30th, centered in Gimhae, the main host city, across 37 venues in the province with 31 events. The closing ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on the 30th at the Gimhae Indoor Gymnasium.

This event features many heroes of disabled sports, including shooting athlete Park Jin-ho (Gangneung City Hall), a two-time champion at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and MVP of the Korean delegation, and triathlete Kim Hwang-tae (POSCO Future M), who swam across the Sen River without arms.