Gwangju Seo-gu to Host 'Asian Open Championship' from 17th to 19th

Published 14 Nov.2023 13:29(KST)

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 14th that it will host the '2023 WSSA Asian Open Sport Stacking Championship' at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center from the 17th to the 19th.

Sport stacking, known to the public as 'cup stacking' or 'hand-based track and field,' is a sport where participants stack and unstack 12 Speed Stacks cups in various ways, demonstrating skills and speed that develop concentration and quick reflexes.

This competition will feature about 400 athletes from 10 Asian Federation countries including South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Mongolia, Australia, and Malaysia. Participants range from the oldest in their 70s to kindergarteners as young as 6 years old, competing across diverse age groups.

Sports Stacking Poster. [Photo by Seogu]

Notably, world number one ranked player Kim Sieun (South Korea) and Chan Keng Ian (Malaysia) will participate, challenging world record-breaking performances.

This internationally certified event is organized by the World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) Asian Federation and the Korea Sport Stacking Association, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the Seo-gu Council of Gwangju Metropolitan City, Gwangju Tourism Organization, Speed Stacks Korea, Naeil Tour, and the Korean Dental Association.

Seo-gu expects more than 700 visitors including athletes, coaching staff, and cheering squads to visit Gwangju during the event and is making thorough preparations to welcome guests.

For the convenience of the competition, hygiene inspections of accommodations and food establishments, promotion of friendly service, guidance to maintain traffic order around the venue, and parking lot maintenance have been undertaken.

Food booths featuring social economy enterprises and self-support project groups will also be set up at the venue, presenting an 'international competition that delights the palate.' Additionally, tourism programs linked with Gwangju Tourism Organization, including Seochang Hanok Cultural Center, Yangdong Traditional Market, Gwangju National Museum, Gwangju International Archery Field, and Yangnim Historical and Cultural Village, will offer an 'international competition that delights the eyes.'

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, said, "Together with the 290,000 residents of Seo-gu, we will successfully host this international competition and create an opportunity for sport stacking to establish itself as a representative sport in community sports."