Shanxi Province Rhythmic Gymnastics Delegation Performs at Sejong Citizen Sports Festival

10th Anniversary of the Sejong City?Shanxi Province Friendship Agreement

The rhythmic gymnastics delegation from Shanxi Province, China, is visiting Sejong City and taking a commemorative photo after participating in the Citizen Sports Festival. / Photo by External Cooperation Officer

On September 28, Sejong City announced that it had invited the youth rhythmic gymnastics delegation from Shanxi Province, China, its international sister city, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their friendship agreement this year and held a series of cultural and sports exchanges.

Earlier, in July, Shanxi Province Vice Governor Chen Chunjiang visited Sejong City and met with Mayor Choi Minho to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their mutual exchange and reaffirm their commitment to cooperation. The Shanxi Province youth rhythmic gymnastics delegation consisted of six rhythmic gymnasts from the Shanxi Provincial Gymnastics Sports Management Center, along with their coach and officials from the Shanxi Provincial Sports Bureau, making a total of ten members.

All of the delegation members are prizewinners at the Chinese Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships and are between 14 and 17 years old. On September 27, the athletes attended the opening ceremony of the 14th Citizen Sports Festival, where they gave a congratulatory performance featuring rhythmic gymnastics with apparatus and a traditional Chinese dance, receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience. As part of the Korea-China youth sports and cultural exchange, they also participated in joint training sessions at the Government Sejong Complex Gymnasium with junior and senior rhythmic gymnasts from the National Sports Club.

The athletes from both countries spent time learning about the differences and strengths of each other's techniques, broadening their understanding and strengthening their friendship. Later that afternoon, they visited the Namsejong Youth Center, where they joined youth club members in experiencing traditional Korean lacquerware crafts and folk games in celebration of Chuseok, gaining firsthand experience of Korean traditional culture.

Since signing the friendship agreement in 2015, the two cities have continued to strengthen their ties through a variety of cooperative projects involving youth, culture, and sports. In particular, through sports agreements, they are promoting exchanges in areas such as taekwondo and women's soccer, thereby enhancing their global sports capabilities.