'Record 4,165 Participants' 19th National Student Sports Festival for the Disabled Opens

Held Across Gyeongsangnam-do Until the 16th

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, hosted by the Korea Paralympic Committee, and organized by Gyeongsangnam-do, the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education, and the Gyeongsangnam-do Sports Association for the Disabled, the 19th National Student Sports Festival for the Disabled (Jangae Haksaeng Cheyuk Daejeon) will be held from May 13 to May 16 across various locations in Gyeongsangnam-do.

The 19th Jangae Haksaeng Cheyuk Daejeon will feature a record-breaking total of 4,165 participants (1,926 athletes and 2,239 officials and staff) representing five types of disabilities: physical, visual, intellectual (developmental), hearing, and brain lesions.

Athletes representing 17 cities and provinces will compete in three divisions: elementary, middle, and high school. The competition includes 5 development events that are also featured in the Paralympics and Asian Para Games, 11 promotional events aimed at expanding grassroots sports participation, and 1 exhibition event, for a total of 17 events.

The competitions will be held in venues across Gyeongsangnam-do, including Gimhae (goalball, disc golf, volleyball, showdown, shuffleboard, athletics, table tennis, and e-sports), Changwon (badminton, bowling, swimming, and football), Jinju (weightlifting and rowing), Sacheon (basketball), and Yangsan (boccia and floorball).

The Jangae Haksaeng Cheyuk Daejeon has long served as a gateway for discovering and nurturing promising and rookie athletes with disabilities, playing a vital role in developing future national representatives. As the largest sports festival for student athletes with disabilities, it not only offers specialized sports to enhance athletic performance but also includes recreational sports, thereby promoting a culture of sports enjoyment among people with disabilities and leading efforts to improve disability awareness.

Medal standings, competition schedules, and other updates for this event can be found on the official event website, while related news is available on the official blog.

On the opening day, Jang Miran, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will visit the opening ceremony at Gimhae Indoor Gymnasium to encourage the student athletes. Jang Miran stated, "Just as the event slogan says, 'Sweat drops running together, buds of confidence blooming,' I hope every student athlete with a disability can perform their best and let their passion blossom." She added, "The Ministry will continue to build an inclusive sports environment where student athletes with disabilities can enjoy exercising and thrive."