Gwangju 2019 committed to paving the way for peace
Gwangju, 30th January, 2019 – In just over 150 days, the 18th FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019 will kick-off. In its recent participation to the AIPS Congress, the Local Organising Committee emphasized the fact that the Gwangju 2019 championships are more than a sporting event - they are a means to bring peace in Northeast Asia and Korean Peninsula.
One of the major priorities that the Gwangju 2019 Championships is working very hard at achieving, with the support of FINA, is to continue the legacy of the joint march of South Korean and North Korean athletes and the formation of the inter-Korean unified team during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Notably, Gwangju 2019 had the opportunity to meet with the Korean Sports Press Union and the North Korean delegation during the recent 82th AIPS Congress that took place in Lausanne, Switzerland. The objective of these meetings was to discuss various initiatives and potential opportunity for collaboration in the near future.
Dr. Cho, Secretary General of the Organising Committee, said: “Since the very beginning, Gwangju 2019 has promised to capitalise on its proud history as a city of democracy, human rights and peace, to create a unifying Championships that promotes positive values across the world. I am proud of the progress made up until now and encourage each and every one to further promote peace through sport.”
The Korean Peninsula is gaining the greatest momentum for peace-building in its recent history and, as the slogan of the Championships “Dive into Peace” implies, Gwangju will write a new chapter in history by riding on the “peace wave” and paving the “peace way” in Northeast Asia.
Contact:
Yongseok CHOI,
Media Support team
Email: press@fina-gwangju2019.com
About FINA World Championships
The 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju will be the 18th in the history of the event. Gwangju will be the third Asian host in history, following Fukuoka, Japan, in 2001 and Shanghai, China, in 2011.
Belgrade, the Serbian capital, held the first competition in 1973 in the-then Yugoslavia, and the Championships have been conducted in the odd years since the 9th Championships in Fukuoka in 2001.
Since the 2015 Kazan World Championships, competitions for active professional swimmers have been held along with the Masters Championships.
The FINA World Championships have established themselves as the most prestigious events supported by FINA, with world-class cities competitively bidding for the rights to host.
Such prestige is demonstrated by the outstanding cities that have held FINA World Championships in the past 10 years. For example, Melbourne, Australia (2007), Rome, Italy (2009), Shanghai, China 2011) and Barcelona, Spain (2003 and 2013) have all recently organised FINA World Championships.
Gwangju, Korea, has been named as the next host of the FINA World Championships in 2019. The moto of the 18th edition ‘Dive into Peace’, shows Gwangju’s engagement in creating a unifying Championships that promotes positive values across the world.
About Gwangju
Located in the South West of Korea, and easily-accessible from the capital city of Seoul, Gwangju has a population of approximately 1.5 million people.
Built upon a 1,000 year history and tradition, Gwangju is known for as a hub for Asian culture. It combines peaceful, natural beauty with the energy and buzz of the city centre, aiming to cater for all types of visitors.
Gwangju is the city of democracy, human rights and peace. The city has long acted like a beacon of light consolidating peace and democracy in Korea.
Having SAMSUNG, KIA Motors and Korea Electric Power Corporation, Gwangju is also a leading city in the 4th industrial revolution focusing its strength on smart city soutions and electric vehicles.