Special Olympics Korea Chairman Chung Yang-seok "We will spread further to the future of integrated soccer that people with developmental disabilities enjoy joyfully, easily and meaningfully.""
Nov 10, 2024
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Chairman Chung visited the site of the "2024 Special Olympics Korea-K League Unified Cup" held at Suanbo Sports Park in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province on the 9th. "Integrated soccer is a sports integrated sport for the disabled who are not familiar with the concept of integration. By joining disabled athletes and partners together, it is possible to increase mutual understanding and improve awareness of the disabled. You can also improve your sports skills. I think it's a really good tournament, and this is my fourth tournament, and I think we need to improve further." SOK is an organization established in 2008 to support sports activities of people with developmental disabilities.
Chairman Chung continued, `Is there a sport as popular as soccer. Two teams of 11 people can join together. 11 teams came today, but I hope a little more teams will participate. There will be some disabled people who couldn't come today. For those who have not yet encountered this opportunity, we should find opportunities and make efforts. I hope that more such competitions will be distributed not only at the national competition, but also at the local city level. Wouldn't it be good if disabled people could enjoy it easily?" he added.
Co-hosted by the foundation K-League Association (Chairman Kwak Young-jin) and Special Olympics Korea, and sponsored by Hyundai Motor Group, Community Chest of Korea, Ringti, Dongwon Spring Water and Papa John's '2024 Special Olympics Korea-K League Unified Cup' is an integrated soccer-based competition in which athletes with developmental disabilities and non-disabled partners play as a team. Integrated soccer aims to help the developmentally disabled and non-disabled understand each other through sports, and further realize the value of social inclusion and equality for the developmentally disabled.
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A variety of events were held, including soccer training sessions hosted by Lee Yoon-pyo, Lee Sang-hyup and Lee Joon-hee from the K League, filming Cho Won-hee-type content with Cho Won-hee, recreation involving the entire team, and education to improve awareness of the disabled. Cho Won-hee, a former member of the national team, blew the referee's whistle herself.
Chairman Chung said "I think it is meaningful to give opportunities to the disabled through talent donations and dedication (such as Cho Won-hee and K Leaguer). I'm so grateful. Our Special Olympics Korea has a duty to receive such precious talent donations and spread them further, improve the rights and interests of the disabled through sports, and improve social participation."
In the '2024 Special Olympics Korea-K League Unified Cup', each team will wear the actual professional team's uniform and play on the ground. Chairman Chung welcomed "Our disabled athletes will feel another sense of pride rather than partnering in an unknown sports club and participating in the competition."
Finally, Chairman Chung said "Health promotion programs are essential for international competitions and domestic competitions at the Special Olympics. People with developmental disabilities take self-health checks that are easy to miss on their own. Ophthalmology, dentistry, grip strength, muscle disease, etc. "Especially sports activities can make you feel the most joy and give you self-satisfaction. It is also more meaningful in that you can feel a sense of unity with your partner through integrated soccer."
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
