WA Inspection Team Praises Preparations: "Suitable for International Competition"
Finals at May 18 Democratic Square, Optimizing Convenience for Athletes and Spectators
Eco-Friendly Model Event... Volunteer Recruitment and Supporters in Action
The "Gwangju 2025 Hyundai World Archery Championships," a festival for archers worldwide, is now just 100 days away. Gwangju City and the Organizing Committee for the "Gwangju 2025 World Archery Championships and World Para Archery Championships" will deliver a message of unity and peace through sports to the world under the slogan "The Echo of Peace" during the event, which will be held from September 5 to 28.
They plan to enhance Gwangju’s status as an international sports city by promoting international cooperation and sustainable development, spreading the values of peace and solidarity worldwide through ODA support for archery technology in developing countries.
Additionally, by implementing the environmentally friendly slogan "No! Plastic, Yes! 966!" for this event, they aim to set an exemplary standard for international sports competitions worldwide.
While Gwangju City and the organizing committee are systematically preparing in areas such as venue maintenance, transportation, and accommodation, the World Archery (WA) inspection team has praised the preparations for the event.
The WA inspection team, along with officials from the Korea Archery Association and the Korea Para Archery Association, visited Gwangju for three days from May 12 to 14 for an on-site inspection. The five-member team, including WA Vice President Han Kyuhyung and Secretary General Tom Dielen, as well as technical officials, reviewed all aspects of the event preparations, such as venue facilities, accessibility, and accommodations.
In particular, the team focused on detailed aspects such as the ease of movement within accommodations for para athletes and the height of tables in dining areas. The inspection team expressed overall satisfaction with the accommodation facilities. The Gwangju International Archery Field was also positively evaluated as providing an environment suitable for international competitions.
Secretary General Tom Dielen stated, "We are satisfied with all the preparations, and the thoughtful consideration for each country's teams stands out, so we look forward to the event in September."
The final match venue being created at May 18 Democratic Square will maximize the use of the available space. Separate movement routes for athletes and spectators are being established, and the practice area is being expanded to optimize event operations. Plans also include accommodating camera setups, blinds, media, and the spacing between the competition area and the stands.
To address the shortage of restroom facilities, additional temporary toilets will be installed at the final match venue, and nearby facilities such as Jeonil Building and the National Asia Culture Center will also be utilized.
For the convenience of participating teams and visitors, the organizing committee has secured 697 rooms across eight hotels, including four-star hotels. Customized meal services that consider the cultural and dietary habits of each country's teams will also be provided. Dedicated shuttle buses will operate frequently between the competition venue and hotels to ensure smooth operation during the six days of the final matches. In particular, sufficient wheelchair lift vehicles and accessible rooms for para athletes are being prepared to ensure comfortable transportation and accommodation.
Gwangju City is investing 3.8 billion KRW to ensure that the Gwangju International Archery Field, where the preliminary and main rounds will be held, meets WA standards by August. The width of the archery field will be increased by 20 meters, from 210 meters to 230 meters. Multipurpose spaces, such as equipment storage rooms, will be created to help athletes perform at their best. In addition, facilities for spectators with wheelchairs will be significantly expanded, including dedicated areas for comfortable viewing.
The city is also ramping up both online and offline promotional efforts to raise awareness of the event. Around 40 short videos introducing the event and encouraging visits, featuring the official mascot E-Pea, will be produced and posted on the event's official social media channels.
Gwangju City and the organizing committee are working to realize the value of a "citizen-participatory event" by providing opportunities for local youth and citizens to take part in the international competition. In June, the organizing committee will select and train around 200 citizen volunteers in various fields such as event operations, support, safety management, and interpretation.
Previously, the city recruited 3,290 supporters by May 23. These supporters will be active in various roles during the event, including welcoming and seeing off teams and cheering at matches.
One of the slogans for this event is "No! Plastic, Yes! 966!" This means that by reducing the carbon footprint, the event will serve as a model for eco-friendly competitions, saving 966 30-year-old pine trees.
As part of the eco-friendly goals, the use of disposable plastic containers and paper printouts will be restricted at the competition venues. Water from dispensers will be provided to participants who bring their own tumblers at both the competition and practice venues.
Before the World Archery Championships, the organizing committee will hold the "Presidential National Men’s and Women’s Archery Competition," a pre-event, in Gwangju in June. The pre-event is intended to check facilities and operations ahead of the main event.
About 1,000 participants, including elementary, middle, and high school students, university students, and general archers from across the country, will take part in the pre-event. It will be held for six days from June 24 to 29 at the Gwangju International Archery Field and May 18 Democratic Square.
On May 27, Kim Seongbae, Director of Culture and Sports, said, "With only 100 days left until the event, we are accelerating thorough preparations. We will ensure that visitors to the World Archery Championships create special memories in Gwangju and discover new charms of the city."
Lee Yeon, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, stated, "Like the event slogan, 'The Echo of Peace,' we will do our best to widely promote Gwangju’s values to the world through a successful event. We will also make thorough preparations so that this event not only expands the archery community but also becomes a platform for solidarity and unity through sports."
As of May 22, 545 participants from 46 countries had registered in the preliminary entry for the World Archery Championships, and 220 participants from 22 countries had registered for the World Para Archery Championships. The final entry list will be confirmed on August 15.
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