The Taegeuk Warriors: Expect a Touching Drama
(Published August 21, 2012)

Kim Seong-ryeol, Vice Governor for Political Affairs of Gyeonggi Province, visits the Korean Sports Training Center on August 20th to offer encouragement and support.

◇ Vice Governor Kim poses for a commemorative photograph with the members of the national athletic team who participated in the 14^th London Paralympics. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

On August 20^th, Vice Governor Kim Seong-ryeol visited the Korean Sports Training Center to cheer the Taegeuk Warriors participating in the 14^th London Paralympics.

Visiting the training center around 4pm, Vice Governor Kim was briefed on the national athletic team and their operations in the situation room at the center.

After the meeting, Vice Governor Kim wrote, “I anticipate moving excitement from our Taegeuk Warriors participating in the London Paralympics and I cheer for all of you,” in the guest book. He ended his visit by cheering athletes at the boccia, table tennis, and fencing practice areas within the Samsung Building and presented a monetary gift after posing for photos with the Gyeonggi Province team and team leader.
◇ Vice Governor Kim Seong-ryeol visits the Korean Sports Training Center on August 20^th, signing the guest book after receiving a briefing. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang
◇ Vice Governor Kim visiting and encouraging the boccia team ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

A non-regular event, boccia involves throwing a ball at another ball and determining the winner by calculating points earned by placing the ball nearest to the target ball. It is open only to those with severe cerebral palsy or a motility disability. Domestically, the game was first played at the 7^th National Para Games in 1987 and 1988, and it was adopted as an official event at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics.

The Korean national team attending this year’s London Paralympics consists of 148 members competing in 13 events (athletes, 88; team officials, 60). Within the national team, a total of 22 members (athletes, 18; team officials, 4) from Gyeonggi Province will participate in 11 events including track and field and table tennis.

The Korean national team aspires to place 13^th in the overall ranking (gold, 11; silver, 8; bronze, 13).  The Gyeonggi athletes aim to earn two gold, two silver, and ten bronze medals, in performances centering around Lee Hwa-suk (women’s archery) and Choi Gwang-geun (men’s wrestling).
◇ Mun Seong-hye practicing table tennis ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang
◇ The national archery team athletes sight their bows towards medals at the 14^th London Paralympics. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

Vice Governor Kim stated, “It is important to win medals at the Olympics, but more important than that is the participation of our athletes.” He added, “I cheer and pray that all Taegeuk Warriors, including athletes from Gyeonggi Province, will do well in their performances.”

The 14^th London Paralympics will be held from August 29 to September 9 with more than 7,000 athletes from 150 countries competing in good faith in 20 different events. The Gyeonggi Province team will have their inaugural rally on the 17^th and head out to London on the 24^th.
◇ Even in bad weather, Hong Seok-man, Korea’s own Usain Bolt, is training hard on the track. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang
◇ Boccia national team athlete Ji Gwang-min with his wide grin ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201208210941117055C049&s_code=C049