Dongmyeong University Soccer Department Participates as Representative of Special Olympics Korea K League Unified Cup Busan IPark Unified Football Team

The Department of Soccer at Dongmyung University participated as the representative of the Busan IPark Unified Football Team in the '2024 Special Olympics Korea K League Unified Cup,' held from the 8th to the 10th at Suanbo Sports Park in Chungju, Chungbuk.

The unified football matches were based on 11-a-side soccer, with each team fielding 6 Special (developmentally disabled) players and 5 partner players, playing two halves of 25 minutes each.

Partner players were distinguished by wearing an armband on their right arm, and a local rule was established to prevent partner players from scoring consecutive goals. All matches were played as group league games without the pressure of winning or losing. Outside of the matches, various programs such as recreation, training methods by former K League players, disability awareness education, and photo sessions with former national team player Jo Won-hee provided entertainment.

Lee Ji-won, a student who participated as a partner player, said, "Beyond winning or losing, it was very meaningful to sweat together, communicate, and challenge ourselves toward a common goal through soccer with Special players and partner players."

Professor Jin Dae-geun of the Department of Soccer stated, "Through a soccer tournament where people with and without disabilities play together, we improved awareness of disabilities, communicated with each other, and grew closer. It was meaningful to break down the barrier of disability and unite through soccer," adding, "We will participate in various activities to spread the value of sports through harmony and exchange in sports activities."

This tournament aims to improve the physical adaptability of people with developmental disabilities and help them be recognized as productive members of society. A total of about 260 participants took part, including 108 Special players with developmental disabilities and 104 non-disabled partner players from the unified football teams of 11 K League clubs.