The Chuncheon 2012 World Leisure Sports Festival on Tuesday successfully wrapped up its various sports competitions and hands-on events that thrilled hundreds of thousands of spectators from home and abroad, organizers said.

The five-day international sports event was its second run since 2010 when it was first hosted by the municipal government of Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, in an effort to encourage people of all ages to enjoy outdoor activities and to further develop the lakeside city's leisure environment.

  

Citing a foreign athlete who took part in the events, organizers said this year's festival was "far more satisfying" than the previous one.

This year's events kicked off last Friday as some 12,000 athletes from 35 countries gathered at the city's Songam Sports Town to compete for medals in 16 international and local leisure sports, according to the event's organizers.
Some 380,000 people in total flocked to watch the sports games as athletes from home and abroad showed off various stunts during the competitions, organizers said.

Despite the effects of the powerful Typhoon Bolaven, which struck South Korea on the festival's closing day, the sports festival nevertheless successfully finished all of its planned events by advancing the date of several outdoor competitions including waterskiing and wakeboarding finals and a couple of the foot volleyball events.

  


The global festival wowed the crowd with its array of international competitions, including the International Inline Slalom Competition, the 2012 IWWF AAO Waterski & Wakeboard Championships, the Asian Waterski & Wakeboard Championships, Asian Under 17 Waterski Championships and the Leisure International Action Sports Championships, organizers said.

The international sports festival also pleased the crowd with plenty of tourist attractions, as world renowned athletes from the United States and France held the so-called "Demon shows," gala shows in which athletes flaunted outstanding paragliding and waterskiing skills, according to organizers.

A number of hands-on events were prepared as well, as visitors of all ages had a chance to enjoy water sports and take part in photo competitions. In addition, a local food festival was simultaneously held, providing more attractions for tourists.

"The first sports festival held in 2010 was a chance to promote Chuncheon and its leisure industry, while this year's events established the foundation to develop and upgrade the city as the ideal place to enjoy leisure sports," said Jeon Ju-soo, the head of the event's organization committee.

 

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Source: Yonhap News (Aug. 28, 2012)