‘D-50 to the Provincial Sports Festival’ Final Preparations in Full Swing for a Grand Festival of Unity, Hope, and Economy … ‘Dream of East Sea Pohang, from Gyeongbuk to the World’

July 15-18 Events Held at Pohang Sports Complex and Other Venues

Provincial Sports Festival Poster.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dong-guk Lee] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, is stepping up preparations for the 60th Gyeongbuk Provincial Sports Festival, scheduled to be held from July 15 to July 18, as the event approaches the D-50 day.

The city is focusing all administrative efforts on systematic preparations to make this provincial sports festival a ‘Harmony Festival’ uniting 3 million residents, a ‘Hope Festival’ fulfilling the dreams and hopes of athletes together, and an ‘Economic Festival’ promoting regional economic revitalization through the realization of Spornomics.

About 100 days before the event, on March 30, the city held the launch ceremony of the Provincial Sports Festival Organizing Committee at the Pohang Culture and Arts Center, followed by preparation status meetings, preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies’ public events, volunteer recruitment, and safety inspections of venues to ensure thorough readiness for the festival.

To this end, a close cooperative system has been established with the Gyeongbuk Sports Council and Pohang Sports Council, aiming to host a successful festival. Additionally, the official website will be launched in June to efficiently promote the festival and encourage citizen participation.

For the festival’s highlights, including the opening and closing ceremonies’ public events and the torch relay, a production service contract has been signed with KBS Art Vision. Under the theme ‘Pohang, the Light of Hope at the Center of a Great Transition and Leap Forward Era,’ a more substantial and differentiated program than any previous festival is being prepared.

Pohang Sports Complex Remodeling Perspective View.

Acting Mayor Jang-sik Lee stated, “As the provincial sports festival is being held normally in Pohang for the first time in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a vision to create a grand stage of great unity where 3 million residents become one, as well as to take a step forward for Pohang City. We will do our utmost to ensure the festival’s success.”

Last July, the city formed the Provincial Sports Festival Preparation T/F Team to begin full-scale preparations. With the festival’s emblem, mascot, poster, slogan, and motto finalized, several preparation status meetings were held by each task force to assign duties by field and finalize the overall framework for the festival’s operation.

An organizing committee of 210 members, including members of the National Assembly, city and provincial councilors, heads of institutions and organizations, and leaders of social and sports groups, was formed to provide advice, discuss current issues, participate in events, volunteer, and offer various support. The committee held a launch ceremony and completed the establishment of a cooperative system for successful festival preparations.

To ensure perfect event operation, a total project budget of 21.5 billion KRW, including 8 billion KRW in national and provincial subsidies, is being invested to complete a full remodeling project. This includes painting and waterproofing inside and outside the comprehensive stadium, facility improvements such as the canopy, windows, offices, and restrooms in the main stand, replacement of the cauldron, and installation of sports equipment. Additionally, perfect repairs and certifications of 17 sports venues, including the indoor swimming pool, Pohang Shooting Range, and Pohang Baseball Stadium, are underway to enhance athletic performance and ensure that records in each sport are officially recognized, with preparations proceeding smoothly in all areas.

The festival’s hosting is also significant as it is expected to expand the base of community sports for citizens through the renovation and repair of the comprehensive stadium and sports facilities.

During the event period, to leave visitors with a clean and friendly city image, large-scale environmental maintenance will be conducted along with establishing traffic order, eradicating illegal dumping of garbage, removing street vendors and roadside obstructions, and dismantling illegal banners to establish basic public order. Furthermore, continuous training will be provided to restaurant and lodging staff to ensure courteous customer service.

The 60th Gyeongbuk Provincial Sports Festival, held in Pohang for the first time in 12 years under the slogan ‘Dream of East Sea Pohang, From Gyeongbuk to the World,’ will have seven sports including badminton, baseball, and golf held as preliminary matches starting June 17. The main competitions for all sports such as athletics, basketball, volleyball, and taekwondo will be held from July 15 to July 18 at Pohang Comprehensive Stadium and respective sports venues.

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