Gyeyang archery meet goes international, but Incheon's funding doesn't

The Gyeyang Open International Archery Tournament, upgraded from a domestic competition to an international one, has expanded in scale, but its financial support still falls short of expectations.

The number of participating countries and athletes is growing every year, and the event's results now count toward world ranking points. Observers say the tournament cannot secure international-caliber competitiveness if only its name changes while its financial and operational foundation fails to keep pace.

Incheon City Council member Lim Hyun-joo, of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gyeyang-gu District 2, raised the issue of inadequate support for the tournament. The discussion came during a review of the second supplementary budget bill for the Culture and Sports Bureau at the 313th extraordinary session of the Incheon City Council, held recently. She called for the city to invest more aggressively and secure additional state funding.

A total of 425 athletes from 22 countries took part — yet the city's contribution amounted to only 100 million won.

The Gyeyang Open International Archery Tournament was elevated from a domestic to an international competition last year. This year's edition drew 425 athletes from 22 countries.

The event also received government-level support. After being selected for a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism grant program, organizers secured 225 million won from the National Sports Promotion Fund.

But Incheon, the host city, contributed only 100 million won.

The gap between the tournament's growing scale and the level of local funding is widening.

Next year, the situation will change further. The tournament is set to become a competition whose results count toward world ranking points, and it will add the compound event. The number of participants is expected to grow to about 450 athletes from 25 countries.

As an international competition, the tournament's operations, athlete support and event environment should be upgraded accordingly, but there are concerns about whether the current financial structure can keep up.

Should Incheon rely on state funding alone? The host city has its own responsibility, too

Lim said, "Now that the tournament has been elevated to international status, Incheon, as the host city, must take a more active role in financial support, along with securing state funding."

She said Incheon's actual settlement spending for last year's international tournament came to about 130 million won. Given that the tournament will continue to grow, she said the city's current funding of 100 million won should be expanded to at least 200 million won.

This is not simply a request to raise the budget. If the host city expects to see promotional and economic benefits from hosting an international tournament, it must also make a commensurate, responsible investment.

The Gyeyang Open International Archery Tournament has the potential to grow beyond a local sporting event into an international sports showcase representing Incheon.

But international status is not built on the number of participating countries or the tournament's name alone. It also requires a competitive environment for athletes, sound operations, participant support, and facilities and services worthy of an international event.

Lim said, "Now that the tournament has been elevated to international status, it should not remain international in name only." She added that Incheon needs to play an active role in ensuring the operations, athlete support and event environment match international standards.

The budget should match the tournament's 'international' name

In particular, she said, relying solely on state funding has its limits.

Lim proposed that Incheon increase its support from 100 million won to 200 million won and systematically evaluate the tournament's outcomes to develop a mid- to long-term support plan.

Hosting the international tournament should help boost the local economy in Gyeyang-gu and Incheon, draw in tourists and raise the city's brand profile. But achieving that requires thinking not only about the tournament's success but also about how to translate its outcomes into benefits for the region.

Ultimately, she said, the Gyeyang Open International Archery Tournament has grown to an international scale, and its support system cannot remain stuck in the past.

Whether the tournament's "internationalization" remains in name only or becomes a genuinely competitive international sporting event now depends on budget and administrative backing, she said.