This is the promotional poster of this year's Asia-Pacific Masters Games in Jeollabuk-do Province. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Hong Angie

The nation is hosting the Asia-Pacific Masters Games for the first time.

From May 12-20 under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the International Masters Games Association will host the competition in Jeollabuk-do Province.

Like the FIFA World Cup soccer finals, this event is held every four years. Unlike other top-tier international competitions, however, this contest is open to anyone aged 30 or older in sports clubs worldwide or former or retired athletes as individuals regardless of nationality, gender, race or religion.

This year's games are expected to see a combined 14,000 participants -- 9,500 from Korea and 4,500 from 71 countries including Japan, China, Mongolia, Australia, the U.S. and Uganda -- compete in 25 sports including soccer, table tennis, badminton, golf, track and field, and swimming.

The event also promotes sports tourism in Jeollabuk-do. Fourteen cities and counties in the province will host cultural events such as the Jeonju Daesaseupnori, a traditional contest of martial arts, lotus lantern festival in Gunsan and spring ritual at the Confucian academy Baeksanseowon in Iksan so that foreign visitors can enjoy both sports and regional culture.

The opening ceremony to feature Korean cultural events is slated for May 13 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Performances by trot singers Youngtak, Na Tae-joo and girl group Oh My Girl and a calligraphy show will hawk the appeal of Korean culture.

"This is Korea's first time to host an international competition of sports for all and an opportunity to raise our international sports competitiveness in this sector." Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yongman said. "I hope that domestic enthusiasts in sports for all raise their abilities a notch for the global stage."

More details and events of the games are available on the event's official website (www.apmg2023.en/).

shong9412@korea.kr