Chungcheong Region to Host 2027 Summer Universiade
Governor Kim Tae-heum Receives Universiade Flag in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany
Chungnam Secures Five Sports Events
Province Accelerates Preparations with 98.5 Billion Won Investment in New International Tennis Stadium
The Chungcheong region has taken its first step toward hosting the 2027 Summer Universiade.
The Chungnam Provincial Government announced on the 28th that Governor Kim Tae-heum attended the closing ceremony of the "Rhine-Ruhr Summer Universiade" held at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord in Germany on the 27th (local time), where he officially received the Universiade flag as the next host city.
The closing ceremony began with the entrance of national flags, followed by closing remarks from the chairman of the organizing committee and the president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the flag handover ceremony, extinguishing of the flame, and performances.
The flag was handed over from Rhine-Ruhr to the Chungcheong region, which will host the 2027 event. Attending the ceremony were Governor Kim, Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, Choi Minho, Mayor of Sejong, Kim Younghwan, Governor of Chungbuk, and Kang Changhee, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
Governor Kim stated, "Athletes and officials from more than 150 countries will visit Chungcheong," and added, "We will ensure that our stadiums and tourism infrastructure meet international standards so that we can welcome our guests without any shortcomings."
The 2027 Chungcheong Universiade will be the third Summer Universiade held in Korea, following Daegu (2003) and Gwangju (2015), and the fourth overall including Winter Universiades.
The event will take place from August 1 to August 12, 2027, across four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region: Chungnam, Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungbuk.
Chungnam has secured five sports: volleyball (Cheonan, Asan, Yesan), water polo (Asan), tennis (Naepo New Town), beach volleyball (Boryeong), and golf (Cheonan).
To this end, the province is investing a total of 98.5 billion won to construct an international-scale tennis stadium in Naepo New Town and is currently remodeling ten stadiums within the province.
Meanwhile, this year's Rhine-Ruhr Universiade was held over 12 days from the 16th, across six cities in Germany, with more than 8,500 athletes and officials from 150 countries participating.
Korea dispatched a delegation of 311 athletes in 13 sports, winning a total of 57 medals: 21 gold, 9 silver, and 27 bronze, finishing fourth overall.
Eight athletes from Chungnam were included in the Korean delegation.
Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, where the closing ceremony was held, is a leading example of urban regeneration in Europe, having transformed a former steel mill into a space that blends green areas with cultural facilities. It now hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including theater, exhibitions, and outdoor film screenings, and is also famous as a night-time illumination attraction.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
