By Kim Seon Ah
Video = Subusu Sports' official YouTube channel
Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, will host this year's Asian Athletics Championships from May 27-31 at Gumi Civic Stadium.
About 2,000 people will take part including 1,193 athletes from 43 countries, officials from international federations, referees and reporters. The number of athletes at this year's event is nearly double that in the 2023 edition (630) in Bangkok, Thailand, marking a tournament record in the number of individual participants and countries.
World-class Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim will face Woo Sang-hyeok, Korea's best in the event, raising anticipation from fans.
Held under the slogan "Asia's Dream, from Gumi to the World," the event will have its opening ceremony on May 27 at 6 p.m. at the stadium and host performances conveying Gumi's identity and future vision.
The ceremony will include the lighting of the torch, entrance of the athletes, congratulatory speeches from leading officials, and a massive light show of 1,000 drones and augmented reality. Congratulatory performances to conclude the event will feature Dynamic Duo, Gummy and Song So-hee as well as fireworks.
The ceremony will be livestreamed on TBC and on its official YouTube channel. Admission to the competition is free with no need for a ticket or reservation.
Gumi Mayor Kim Jangho, who is also chair of the tournament's organizing committee, said, "We will run a perfect competition in line with its record-high scale to catapult Gumi to the rank of a global sports city."
sofiakim218@korea.kr