Spirited Competition Among 400 Seniors at Hwaseong Gateball Festival

Hwaseong Special City (Mayor Jung Myeong-geun) held the '11th Hwaseong Mayor's Cup Gateball Tournament' on the 20th at the soccer field of Dowon Sports Park, hosted by the Hwaseong City Sports Association and organized by the Hwaseong City Gateball Association.

The tournament drew participation from 28 gateball clubs within the city, approximately 400 people, who competed in showcasing their refined skills and engaged in time to communicate with one another.

The opening ceremony was attended by Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myeong-geun, Hwaseong City Council Chairman Lee Gye-cheol, provincial assembly members, the Hwaseong City Sports Association chairman, the Hwaseong City Gateball Association chairman, tournament officials, and participating athletes.

The opening ceremony proceeded with commendations for sports contributors, opening remarks and congratulatory addresses, the declaration of the tournament's opening, and an oath by an athlete representative.

At the ceremony, Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myeong-geun said, "Gateball is an excellent community sport that allows elderly residents to maintain their health while building deep friendships with neighbors and fostering communication," and added, "I hope this tournament becomes a meaningful festival where participants encourage and unite with one another, transcending winning and losing."

Gateball is a community sport that places relatively low physical demands on participants and allows people to enjoy both exercise and social interaction, contributing to health promotion and vibrant leisure activities for elderly residents.

The city expects this tournament to serve as an opportunity to expand community sports participation among elderly residents and bring renewed vitality to the local community.