Seoul and Jeju Island have come together through recreational sports.
The Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council announced Tuesday that athletes from the two sides took part in the "Seoul-Jeju Recreational Sports Friendship Exchange," a three-day event that ran from Thursday. The Seoul delegation comprised 51 athletes — volleyball, mountaineering and table tennis enthusiasts — while the Jeju Island team fielded about 100 participants, with both sides competing in friendly matches to strengthen ties.
Now in its 17th year, the event was organized to build a foundation for recreational sports development between the two regions and to promote ongoing sports exchanges.
The Seoul delegation arrived on Jeju Island on Thursday and enjoyed a yacht tour along the scenic coastline off Dodu Port before attending a welcome dinner at the banquet hall of the Ramada City Hotel. The following day, Friday, volleyball and table tennis matches were held at the Jeju Complex Gymnasium, while the mountaineering contingent bonded by climbing Jeolmul Oreum together.
Jeju Island Sports Council Chairman Shin Jin-seong welcomed the Seoul delegation, expressing hope that the athletes would "create wonderful memories while competing together during the exchange."
Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council Chairman Kang Tae-seon responded warmly, saying he was "very happy to visit Jeju, my hometown," and expressing hope that the two sides would "share various sports programs and hold competitions to build a healthy urban community." He also thanked Jeju for the invitation, adding, "Let's meet again next year in Seoul, in even better health."
yjc@heraldcorp.com
