Special Olympics Korea (SOK), which took office in September, vowed to expand integrated soccer.
“Integrated soccer is a sports integrated sport for people with disabilities who are not familiar with the concept of integration,” Chung said in a visit to the “2024 Special Olympics Korea-K League Unified Cup” held at Suanbo Sports Park in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province on Sunday. “Integrated soccer is a sports integrated sport for people with disabilities who are not familiar with the concept of integration. Participation of athletes with disabilities and partners can enhance mutual understanding and awareness of people with disabilities. You can also improve your sports capabilities. I think it is a really good competition, and I think we need to develop further since this is our fourth competition.” The SOK was established in 2008 to support sports activities of people with developmental disabilities.
Chairman Chung continued, “Is there a sport that is as popular as soccer? Two teams of 11 people can play together. We have 11 teams today, but I hope more and more teams can participate. There will be people with disabilities who couldn’t come today. For those who haven’t experienced this opportunity yet, we should find opportunities and make efforts. I hope more such competitions will be distributed not only at the national competition but also at the local level. Wouldn’t it be good if the disabled can enjoy it easily?”
The “2024 Special Olympics Korea-K League Unified Cup,” 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, is an integrated soccer-based competition in which athletes with developmental disabilities and non-disabled partners play as a team. Integrated soccer aims to understand each other through sports, and further realize the value of social inclusion and equality for the developmentally disabled.
About 260 players from 11 integrated soccer teams (Federation, Gyeongnam, Daegu, Daejeon, Busan, Bucheon, Seongnam, Incheon, Jeonnam, Jeju and Pohang) under each K-League club participated in the tournament. All games are based on 11-person soccer, with six special (developmentally disabled) players and five partner players from each team playing for 25 minutes each in the first and second half. All games will be played only in the group stage, where there is no burden of winning or losing, and the awards ceremony will be awarded from the “first winner” (first place) to the “fourth winner” (fourth place) of each group, not the winning team.
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, shooting contents of “Lee Geohae” with Cho Won-hee, recreation involving the entire team, and education to improve awareness of the disabled. A former member of the national team, Cho himself blew the whistle. 메이저사이트
“I think it is meaningful to give opportunities to the disabled through talent donation and dedication (of Cho Won-hee and K Leaguer). It is a very thankful thing. We have a duty to receive such precious talent donations and spread them further, improve the rights and interests of the disabled through sports, and better participate in society,” Chairman Chung said.
At the “2024 Special Olympics Korea-K League Unified Cup,” each team will wear the actual professional team’s uniform and play on the ground. “Our athletes with disabilities will feel more proud than partnering at an unknown sports club and participating in the competition,” Chung said.
Finally, Chung said, “Health promotion programs are essential for international competitions and domestic competitions of the Special Olympics. People with developmental disabilities often take self-health tests that they cannot afford to miss. They include ophthalmology, dentistry, grip strength and muscle disease,” adding, “Especially, sports activities can make you feel the most joy and give you self-satisfaction. It is all the more meaningful in that you can feel a sense of unity with your partner through integrated soccer.”