Attendees at the launching ceremony for the national team competing in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan on Sept. 3 say "Fighting!" to wish success at the tournament while posing for a group photo at Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Heo Man-jin, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
By Charles Audouin
The launching ceremony for the national team competing in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan was held on Sept. 3, two weeks before the competition begins, at the velodrome of Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province.
The squad pledged to deliver strong performances at the tournament.
Attending were about 800 members of the national delegation including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young, Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) President Ryu Seung-min and delegation head Lee Sang-hyun. Officials encouraged members and wished them success at the tournament.
Team Korea also received anti-doping and safety training afterward.
"I hope that the earnest efforts you've poured into this competition under the name Team Korea will bear fruit at these games and leave you with no regrets," Ryu said in a speech.
From Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, about 11,000 athletes from 46 countries will compete for 469 gold medals across 43 sports.
Korea's contingent comprises 1,050 members in 41 sports ranging from soccer and baseball to new disciplines such as esports and virtual taekwondo. The country will compete in all events except cricket and padel, its largest participation in Asiad history.
The KSOC has set a target of 40-45 gold medals and repeating a third-place overall finish.
The athletes will travel to Japan according to the schedules of their respective sports, while the main contingent will depart for Nagoya on Sept. 17.
"These games are a valuable opportunity for athletes in sports not widely known to showcase their skills and hard work," the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. "They will also provide a chance to experience on the global stage sports popular among the younger generation such as esports and breaking, as well as discover top-tier talent in recreational sports such as squash and mountain biking."
Lee Sang Hyun, head of the national delegation to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, on Sept. 3 waves the national flag at the launching ceremony at Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Korean Sport and Olympic Committee)
caudouin@korea.kr
