Gwangju World Para Archery Championships to Open on the 22nd

443 Athletes from 47 Countries Compete in Four Categories
Finals to Be Held on September 27 and 28 at May 18 Democracy Square
Enhanced Accessibility with Wheelchair Seating for an Inclusive Event

Poster of the World Disabled Archery Championships (Ambassador Okgeum Kim). Provided by Gwangju City

The city of Gwangju announced on September 19 that the "Gwangju 2025 World Para Archery Championships" will be held from September 22 to 28 at the Gwangju International Archery Center and the May 18 Democracy Square.

This event will see 443 athletes from 47 countries around the world competing fiercely for 17 gold medals across four categories: recurve, compound, W1 (severe impairment), and VI (visual impairment).

Following the successful conclusion of the "Gwangju 2025 Hyundai World Archery Championships" on September 12, Gwangju becomes the third city in the world, after Turin, Italy, and 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, to consecutively host both the World Archery Championships and the World Para Archery Championships. It has been 18 years since the World Para Archery Championships were last held in Korea, with the previous event taking place in Cheongju in 2007.

The competitions will be held at the Gwangju International Archery Center and the May 18 Democracy Square. The preliminary and main rounds will take place at the Gwangju International Archery Center, while the finals will be held over two days, September 27 and 28, at a special venue set up in the May 18 Democracy Square.

Twenty athletes will represent South Korea, with notable performances expected from Yoon Taeseong (compound) and Kim Okgeum (W1), both members of the Gwangju City Hall team. Kim Okgeum is also serving as an ambassador for this championship.

World Para Archery Championships Match Schedule. Provided by Gwangju City

The event organizing committee is focusing on realizing inclusive values so that both people with and without disabilities can share the excitement of sports. Sections A and B of the finals venue have been remodeled as wheelchair and priority seating, significantly enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities, and 500 spectator seats have been prepared. Additionally, special vehicles for wheelchair users and guides will be provided to actively support the mobility of participating athletes.

Admission to the competitions is free. Tickets for the finals can be reserved in advance through "Interpark NOL" until September 24, and any remaining tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the venue on the day of the event.

The organizing committee will continue to operate programs supporting archery technology development in underdeveloped countries (ODA) and manage the event in an eco-friendly manner. For this championship, two athletes from Peru and Uganda will receive archery equipment and technical support, embodying the spirit of inclusion and sharing in sports.

Jeon Eunok, Director of Culture and Sports, stated, "Following the successful conclusion of the Hyundai World Archery Championships, we are thoroughly preparing for the World Para Archery Championships as well. As a leading city upholding the values of democracy, human rights, and peace, we will focus all our efforts on realizing these values in the field of sports."

Meanwhile, during the championship period, the organizing committee will run citizen participation programs through its official Instagram account, including a cheering comment event and on-site verification event. Selected participants will receive prizes through a draw.

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