Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Strengthens Cooperation with WADA Ahead of Busan Congress

Minister Huiyoung Choi and WADA President Witold Banka Discuss Anti-Doping Cooperation
Fair Play Ground Opens as Korea Expands Its Role in Promoting Clean Sports

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 25th that it will strengthen cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to foster a fair and clean sports environment.

On this day at 3 p.m., Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwiyoung Choi will meet with WADA President Witold Banka to discuss international cooperation on anti-doping and Korea's expanded role. President Banka is visiting Korea to review preparations for the 2025 WADA General Assembly, which will be held in Busan from December 1 to 5 as the first such event in Asia. On the 26th, Vice Minister Daehyun Kim of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will attend the opening ceremony of the "Fair Play Ground," an experiential anti-doping culture space newly established at the Seoul Olympic Parktel, together with President Banka.

During the meeting between Minister Hwiyoung Choi and President Banka, they will discuss the current status of preparations for the successful hosting of the Busan WADA General Assembly and Korea's expanded role in promoting anti-doping culture in Asia. The WADA General Assembly is the most authoritative meeting in the field of anti-doping and is held every six years. The 2025 Busan WADA General Assembly is expected to bring together about 2,000 participants, including President Banka, representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and government officials from various countries.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwiyeong Choi is taking a commemorative photo after meeting with Witold Banka, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), at the National Assembly on the 25th.
Photo by Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry

The opening ceremony for the Fair Play Ground will take place at 10:30 a.m. on the 26th at the Seoul Olympic Parktel. Vice Minister Daehyun Kim will attend the ceremony to celebrate the launch of this experiential space that highlights the importance of anti-doping and fair sports. In addition to President Banka, the ceremony will also be attended by Hyungju Ha, President of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation; Nara Kim, Chair of the Athletes' Committee at the Korea Anti-Doping Agency and former national gymnastics athlete; and Donghyun Kim, a member of the Athletes' Committee.

The Fair Play Ground has been created so that athletes, youth, and anyone interested can easily and enjoyably learn about the dangers of doping and the value of fair play in sports. It has been in trial operation since July 14 and will officially open on the 26th. The Fair Play Ground is divided into three zones: Fair, Play, and Ground. In the Fair Zone, visitors can learn about the history of doping, real-life cases, types of banned substances, and their risks through digital content such as virtual reality. The Play Zone offers interactive activities such as spot-the-difference games and quizzes, allowing participants to physically engage while learning anti-doping concepts. In the Ground Zone, visitors can make a "Clean Sports" declaration, create keychains, and actively commit to fair competition and communication.

Minister Hwiyoung Choi stated, "As the largest conference in the field of anti-doping is being held in Korea for the first time in Asia, we will do our utmost to ensure the successful hosting of the General Assembly and further expand Korea's role as a leading nation in anti-doping." He added, "Anti-doping is the most fundamental and essential value for protecting athletes' rights and the integrity of sports. I hope the Fair Play Ground will shine as a place where people can learn and commit to fair competition and a healthy sporting spirit."

President Banka remarked, "With 100 days left until the Busan WADA General Assembly, I hope it will become a historic event that brightens the future of sports. I also congratulate Korea on this meaningful initiative of creating an experiential space where anyone can easily learn about the importance of anti-doping ahead of the General Assembly."

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