KSPO Holds Ceremony to Celebrate 36th Anniversary of 1988 Seoul Olympics

Chairman Cho Hyun-jae of Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO) delivers a welcoming speech at a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of Korea’s hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics at Seoul Olympic Parktel on Sept. 10.

Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO) held a ceremony on Sept. 10 to mark the 36th anniversary of Korea’s hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

At the event, they shed new light on the Olympics’ historical meaning and dissemination of Olympic values for future generations.

Among about 300 people on hand at the anniversary event held at Seoul Olympic Parktel were KSPO Chairman Cho Hyun-jae, KSPO executives and staff members, Seoul Olympic bid committee members and volunteers’ association members as well as 2024 Paris Olympics medalists.

The anniversary event began with a commemorative speech delivered by KSPO Chairman Cho.

A plaque of merit was delivered in honor of the late Lee Hui-keon, the founder of Shinhan Bank, who contributed to Korea’s successful hosting of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, while serving as chairman of a committee of supporting Korean residents in Japan at that time.

The plaque was awarded to Lee Kyung-jae, the second son of the late chairman, and a director of the Lee Hui-keon Korea-Japan Exchange Foundation.

Writer Kim Hyun, who produced “Hodoli,” the official mascot of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, read a retrospective message.

The event coincided with a campaign, titled “Thank You 88 Seoul,” an opportunity to recollect the moments and remind thanks the Seoul Olympics has brought to Korea.

The anniversary event ended with the awarding of certificates to compensate athletes for their elite performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking their career milestones and keeping Koreans awake until the early morning hours last summer.

The medalists included Oh Sang-wook and Koo Bon-gil from the fencing contingent; and Kim Woo-jin and Lim Si-hyun from shooting.

The event served as an opportunity to recognize Olympic values from Seoul 36 years ago to Paris recently, and the Korean sports community’s international standing.

KSPO Chairman Lee said, “The Seoul Olympics is a being like a lamp connecting the present and the future, not ending up the heritages of the past, and KSPO will devote itself to making Korea a better country by inheriting the spirit of the Seoul Olympics and through sports.”

Family visitors have a good time during the 2024 Korea Leisure Sports Festival, which took place in Goessan, Chungcheongbuk-do, from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7. (Photos: KSPO)

KSPO Holds 2024 Korea Leisure Sports Festival

Korea Sports Promotion Foundation held the 2024 Korea Leisure Sports Festival in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Goessan, Chungcheongbuk-do, from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7.

The event was hosted by the Chungcheongbuk-do Athlectic Association, which was selected in a public contest among 17 city and provincial athletic associations.

Five leisure sports competitions took place during the festival and spectators were given the opportunity to experience about 30 leisure sports, including hot-air balloon, sports climbing, horsing and kayaking.

KSPO said, “Well-planned programs have received the good reception from visitors, and spectators have been given the chance to experience new sports, such as pickleball and footketball, as well as virtual reality sports experiences like VR rowing and water skiing, gaining positive evaluations from family visitors.”

Kim Byung-soo, head of the Sports Facility Team at KSPO, said, “I hope the festival will serve as an opportunity for all family members to enjoy leisure sports and know them, and we will redouble efforts to invigorate safe and exciting leisure sports so more people can enjoy a sound leisure culture.”