The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), led by President Yoo Seung-min, announced Tuesday that the 30th Korea-Japan Youth Sports Exchange Invitational concluded successfully after a five-night, six-day run in Daejeon from Aug. 2 to 7.
The Korea-Japan Youth Sports Exchange has been held annually since 1997, alternating between the two countries in invitation and dispatch formats to give elementary and middle school students opportunities for international sports exchange and cultural experiences. This year's invitational drew 434 participants in total, including a 216-member Japanese delegation from Mie and Hyogo prefectures, along with athletes and officials from both sides.
Participants competed and trained together across five sports — soccer, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and badminton — holding joint training sessions, practice matches and official games to test their skills and build friendships. Taking advantage of Daejeon's identity as a science city, they also broadened their exchange through a visit to the National Science Museum and a range of other science and cultural programs.
Following the invitational, the South Korean delegation is set to travel to Mie Prefecture, Japan, for the dispatch leg of the exchange, scheduled from Monday to Saturday, where they will compete against local youth athletes and continue cultural exchanges.
"I am very pleased that the Korea-Japan Youth Sports Exchange, which helps young people from both countries understand each other and build friendships through sport, has consistently continued," KSOC President Yoo said. "We will actively support efforts to expand the foundation of friendship and cooperation between the next generation of both countries through sports."
yjc@heraldcorp.com
