Hangzhou stars set to open 104th National Games in Mokpo, Korea

13-19 July, 7 days of heat across Jeollanam-do A record 29,900 participants in 49 events

The 104th National Sports Games kicked off with the opening ceremony at the Mokpo Sports Complex in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, on Wednesday.

Under the slogan, "Let's fly together in Jeonnam, the land of life," a record number of 29,955 athletes (28,477 from city and provincial teams and 1478 from overseas Korean athletic organizations) will compete through the 19th. Competitions in 49 sports will be held at 70 venues in 22 cities and counties in Jeollanam-do.

The opening ceremony was held under the theme, "Ungbihara, Jeonnam's Earthly Sound! More than 15,000 athletes and spectators attended.

The opening ceremony, which began with the entrance of the athletes, featured performances with the themes of "Born, Ancient Jeolla," "Proclaim, New Jeolla Era!" and "Go forth, Ring of Jeolla," followed by an opening declaration by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, a welcome speech by Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, and an opening speech by Korea Sports Federation President Lee Ki-heung.

President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife Kim Gun-hee attended the opening ceremony and delivered congratulatory remarks.

In his congratulatory remarks, President Yoon said, "The National Games have laid a solid foundation for Korea to grow into a sports powerhouse," adding, "We will ensure that all Koreans can enjoy their sports rights fairly. We will do our best to develop the sports industry, promote elite sports, and improve the welfare of athletes."

The highlight, the torch lighting ceremony, was attended by five local personalities.

The torch, which was lit at four locations - Haenam's tip, Goheung's Naruju Center, Ganghwa Island's Manisan Mountain, and Mokpo's Bukhan Sunset Park - traveled 943 kilometers from Oct. 10 to 13, covering 147 sections in the hands of 685 local residents.

The torch, carried by boxer Lim Ye-ji from Hwasun County Government, was passed to researcher Lee Tae-jin from the Narrows Center, youth farmer Seo Soo-soo, former national baseball team coach Sun Dong-yeol, and Jeonbuk University track and field athlete Bae Geon-yul.

The five runners crossed the stone bridge together and lit the flame.

After the torch was lit, a drone show depicting the Naro flying into space concluded the official opening ceremony.

The national championships will feature a number of stars who competed at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which concluded on Aug. 8.

Korean swimming sensation Hwang Sun-woo (Gangwon Provincial Office), who won six medals at the Asian Games, including two golds; Kim Woo-min (Gangwon Provincial Office), who won three swimming management titles and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Korean team; Lee Im-hyun (Korea Gymnastics University), who won three archery titles and was also named MVP; and Woo Sang-hyuk (Yongin City Hall), Korea's top track and field star.

Hwang, who will compete in five events, including the 100 and 200 meters freestyle, 카지노사이트랭크 will take to the water at the Mokpo Indoor Pool on the 15th. Kim Woo-min will start racing on the 14th.

The archery event, which will feature national athletes such as Lim Im-hyun, An An (Gwangju Women's University), Kang Chae-young (Hyundai Mobis), Kim Woo-jin (Cheongju City Hall), Kim Jeduk (Yecheon County Hall) and Lee Woo-seok (Kolon), will be held at the Gwangju International Archery Center from the 14th. The individual finals will be held on the 18th.

Woo Sang-hyuk will jump on the 18th at the Mokpo Sports Complex.

Other competitors include two-time Asian Games pentathlete Jeon Woong-tae (Gwangju City), taekwondo athletes Jang Jun (Korea Gas Corp.) and Lee Da-bin (Seoul City), judoka Kim Ha-yoon (Ansan City) and table tennis player Jang Woo-jin.

The tournament is organized by the Korea Sports Council and hosted by Jeonnam, Jeonnam Office of Education, and Jeonnam Sports Association.

This will be the 104th edition of the national championships and the first time in 15 years that the event has been held in Jeonnam since 2008. 고스톱