From last winter through early spring, elite athletes from across the country flocked to Donghae, Gangwon Province for training camps. The city backed those visits with wide-ranging support, helping athletes and their families stay in top condition while experiencing the area's travel offerings and cuisine.
Donghae is now wrapping up the 61st Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Residents' Athletic Games, which it hosted, with the closing ceremony set for Tuesday. The city is directing its full efforts toward the final day of competition and closing festivities to bring the event to a successful conclusion.
Since the games opened Friday, fierce competition has unfolded across 43 sports — including track and field, soccer, tennis and hockey — with athletes, delegations and local residents filling venues with a festival atmosphere.
The games have extended beyond sport to drive tourism and local economic activity, giving Donghae a chance to demonstrate the potential of its long-pursued vision of becoming a "sports-stay city."
After their events, athletes, families and visitors have been exploring Donghae's natural attractions and tourism sites — among them the lavender festival at Mureung Byeolyucheonji, Dojjebigol Sky Valley, Chuam Beach, Mangsang Beach and Mukho Port.
The influx has reached local businesses as well, with hotels, restaurants and traditional markets all seeing steady foot traffic from participants and spectators. Observers say the games have injected fresh energy into the local economy.
Donghae said it has prepared continuously across multiple areas — venue upgrades, accommodation, transportation, safety, sanitation, volunteer coordination and tourism promotion — and has kept an on-site support system running throughout the games to minimize inconvenience for participants.
On Tuesday, the final day of competition, most events will wrap up by the afternoon. A closing ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Donghae General Stadium, bringing four days of competition to a close.
The games have drawn recognition as more than a sporting event — run as a stay-and-experience athletics festival where participants engaged with tourism, culture and local commerce, showcasing Donghae's strength as a city where sport and tourism coexist.
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