Choo Mi-ae: "Ensuring Disability Is Not a Barrier... Gyeonggi-do to Expand Community Sports for People with Disabilities"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae pointed out the reality that people with disabilities must make a greater determination and endure more inconvenience to exercise, stating her commitment to change the social environment that turns disability into a barrier, and to expand the foundation so that everyone can enjoy community sports close to home.

At the opening ceremony of the "20th Gyeonggi Province Disabled Sports for All Festival" held on the 28th at Seodo in Jaraseom, Gapyeong County, Governor Choo emphasized, “People with disabilities should be able to choose and participate in the exercise of their choice in their neighborhood without having to make a major decision, and receive the help they need naturally. We must change not the disabilities themselves, but the environment of our society that turns disabilities into barriers.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae attended the opening ceremony of the 20th Disabled Sports Festival held in Gapyeong on the 28th, participating in a performance with the attendees. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

She further stated, “We will expand Bandabi Sports Centers and disability-friendly sports facilities, and thoroughly establish programs and instructors tailored to local needs and disability types. We will ensure that opportunities to exercise do not differ depending on where a person lives or what type of disability they have.”

Under the slogan “Healing Gapyeong, Embracing Gyeonggi,” the two-day festival running until the 29th features a total of 4,276 participants, including 1,957 athletes from 31 cities and counties, as well as 2,319 guardians and officials.

This year’s event brings together athletes with diverse disabilities, including visual, intellectual, auditory, and brain disabilities, who will compete in 19 events such as gateball, basketball, billiards, badminton, boccia, bowling, swimming, athletics, table tennis, park golf, football, e-sports, taekwondo, among others.

The opening ceremony featured a pre-event sign language and wheelchair dance performance, followed by celebratory performances by Norazo and Jang Yoon-jeong. Gyeonggi Province plans to continue expanding community sports programs and facilities in line with the characteristics and needs of people with disabilities, thereby increasing opportunities for their participation in sports for all.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.