[Regional Feature] 'No Room for Oversight'... Gapyeong-gun Goes All Out to Prepare for the Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival for the Disabled

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Eom In-yong] Ahead of the opening of the '20th Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival for the Disabled,' Gapyeong-gun is going all out to prepare for a successful event.

Held over two days starting on the 28th of this month, the festival will bring together some 5,000 participants from 31 cities and counties across Gyeonggi Province.

Athletes will compete fiercely in 19 events, including track and field, swimming, football, boccia, and showdown, at 17 venues including the Gapyeong Sports Complex.

"There is no room for oversight"... We took a look at the preparations that Gapyeong-gun is pouring its full efforts into for this festival.

■ The opening ceremony, from performances to hands-on activities to food... a 'festival' venue

The festival's opening ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on the 28th at Seodo on Jaraseom Island. Beginning with a sign language performance and a wheelchair dance sport performance, the ceremony will feature the entrance of athlete delegations from 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province and the official proceedings, followed by celebratory performances by singers Jang Yoon-jeong and Norazo and a prize drawing, all set to heighten the festive atmosphere.

At the event grounds, various side events will also be run, including hands-on programs such as a water gun shooting challenge and summer fan making, as well as a food zone with items like sweet and spicy fried chicken and pine nut pie, sales of Gapyeong's agricultural specialties, brewery tasting events, and health campaigns.

■ Cooler and more comfortable... a spectator-centered festival

In preparation for the record heat wave this summer, Gapyeong-gun moved the opening ceremony up from the originally scheduled afternoon to the morning and shortened the event's duration. Large shade tents and parasols will be installed at the venue, and cooling shelters equipped with portable air conditioners as well as cooling buses will be operated. A refrigerated truck dedicated to ice water will also be deployed on-site to minimize inconvenience for spectators.

In addition, the county plans to create a barrier-free environment by operating sign language interpreters, braille guidebooks, and support booths for people with mobility difficulties, making it a festival that both people with and without disabilities can enjoy together.

■ Immerse yourself in the appeal of unique sports

Another can't-miss viewing point of this festival is the chance to see disability sports rarely encountered in everyday life all in one place.

First, Lawn Bowling is a game of precision played on grass. Using the characteristic of a ball made heavier on one side to roll in a curve rather than a straight line, the appeal of the game lies in strategies to place the ball close to the target ball or push away the opponent's ball. Showdown is an event known as 'table tennis for the visually impaired.' Wearing blindfolds, athletes attack and defend by listening only to the movement of a ball that makes sound. In the silence, they compete relying solely on hearing and reflexes.

Boccia, a Paralympic medal-winning event, is a strategic game reminiscent of curling in the Winter Olympics. Beyond placing one's ball closest to the target ball, meticulous tactics such as pushing away the opponent's ball or blocking its path determine victory or defeat. Sjoelen, which anyone of any age or gender can easily enjoy, is a game where players slide discs along a board about 2 meters long into scoring slots. Though it looks simple, it requires precise control of force and concentration.

Lee Seon-gyu, head of Gapyeong-gun's Provincial Sports Festival Promotion Team, said, "This festival is a celebration of harmony where everyone enjoys and cheers together beyond winning or losing," adding, "We will do our best in preparing for the festival so that many residents and tourists can visit the venue and create the emotion and special memories of disability sports together."