Minister Choi Hwi-young Attends National Sports for All Festival Opening Ceremony, Announces Expanded Investment in Sports for All
by Park Pyunghee
Published 24 Apr.2026 08:13(KST)
Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will visit the opening ceremony and competition venues of the '2026 National Sports for All Festival' held in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do on April 24. There, he will encourage sports for all enthusiasts from across the country and meet with provincial and municipal sports council presidents to discuss ways to promote sports for all.
The 2026 National Sports for All Festival, hosted by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and organized by Gyeongsangnam-do and the Gyeongsangnam-do Sports Council, opened on April 23. Under the slogan, 'An Impressive, Harmonious Festival Unfolding in Gyeongnam,' the event will be held through April 26 across Gyeongsangnam-do, with Gimhae as the main venue. Over 20,000 participants, including athletes, officials, and referees, from 17 cities and provinces nationwide will showcase their skills in 41 sports events, making the festival a platform for unity.
Before the opening ceremony, Minister Choi will preside over a meeting with the presidents of provincial and municipal sports councils to hear field opinions on promoting sports for all. He will then attend the opening ceremony at Gimhae Sports Complex to celebrate the opening of the festival and encourage teams representing the 17 cities and provinces. On April 25, he will visit key competition venues such as Gimhae Citizen Sports Park and Gimhae Culture and Sports Center to observe events including roller skating, football, and ssireum (Korean wrestling), and cheer on the athletes.
This festival features competitions in a total of 41 sports, including kendo, gateball, golf, basketball, and volleyball. The events will take place at 60 venues in 18 cities and counties within Gyeongsangnam-do-including 14 venues in Gimhae-as well as one venue in Gyeongbuk.
Minister Choi stated, "Sports for all is the foundation of a healthy and happy life, and a key national sector that leads to reduced healthcare costs and an increase in the productive population by extending healthy lifespans. In particular, investing in sports for all in the era of population aging is an essential investment for the nation's future, alongside social infrastructure and research and development. As more people become active, Korea's sustainable competitiveness will also strengthen. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will make bold investments to ensure that sports for all becomes an even more integral part of everyday life."
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