Gwangju City Unveils G-Stadium... 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival Opens on the 16th

31 Cities and Counties to Compete in 27 Sports

72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival to Be Held in Gwangju

The "72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival 2026 Gwangju," where athletes from 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province will compete, will grandly open on the 16th at Gwangju City’s G-Stadium.

The 72nd Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival 2026 Gwangju, where athletes from 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province compete, will dramatically open on the 16th at Gwangju City G-Stadium. Provided by Gwangju City

This year’s festival, held under the slogan "Dynamic Leap of Gyeonggi Province, in Gwangju!", will take place for three days from April 16 to 18 at sports venues across Gwangju City. In this celebration of unity for Gyeonggi Province’s 14 million residents, teams from 31 cities and counties will participate in 27 sports, including track and field, swimming, and soccer, competing for the honor of their respective regions.

Notably, this event is especially significant as it will be the first major sporting event held at the recently completed G-Stadium. Last month, Gwangju City finished construction of the G-Stadium, a multi-purpose sports complex with a main stadium accommodating 12,000 spectators, an international-standard swimming pool, and a bowling alley, thus establishing the necessary infrastructure for a successful event.

The "72nd Gyeonggi-do Sports Festival 2026 Gwangju," where athletes from 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi-do compete, will launch magnificently on the 16th at Gwangju G-Stadium. Provided by Gwangju City, Gyeonggi-do

On the opening day, April 16, the opening ceremony will be held in the afternoon, with Kim Seongjung, Acting Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Bang Sehwan, Mayor of Gwangju, heads of each city and county, and numerous residents in attendance. The ceremony will feature a cultural performance depicting Gwangju’s history and future vision, as well as a drone show and other diverse spectacles, heightening the festive atmosphere.

Gwangju City has thoroughly prepared for the event, establishing traffic and parking plans, inspecting accommodations and restaurants, and allocating volunteers to ensure smooth operations. Special attention has been given to accessibility for athletes and spectators with disabilities by securing barrier-free pathways inside the stadium and assigning dedicated guides.

The 72nd Gyeonggi-do Sports Festival 2026 Gwangju, where athletes from 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province compete, will spectacularly open on the 16th at Gwangju G-Stadium. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

Mayor Bang Sehwan stated, "It is an honor to host a festival for the unity of Gyeonggi Province’s residents in Gwangju, a city where history and culture come alive," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure safety and smooth operations until the very end, so that all participants can perform at their best."

Meanwhile, following the 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival, the 16th Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival for the Disabled will also be held in Gwangju City from April 26 to 28, continuing the momentum of sports in Gyeonggi Province.

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