Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City to Host the Opening of the 2026 National Junior Sports Festival and Youth Para Games… Creating a Welcoming Stage Where Athletes Take Center Stage

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-duk, announced that it will hold the opening ceremony of The 20th National Youth Para Games on May 12 at 14:30 at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium under the vision “A Future Running Together in Global Hub City Busan.”

The 20th National Youth Para Games will be held over four days from May 12 to May 15 at 17 venues, including the Asiad Main Stadium, where approximately 5,000 youth para athletes from across the country will compete in 18 sports.

Marking its 20th edition, this event will be held in Busan for the first time since its inception, and the opening ceremony is expected to provide unforgettable memories for youth para athletes visiting Busan from across the nation.

The opening ceremony will be staged under the theme “Voyage of Light, Busan—Into Waves of Emotion,” creating an inspiring event where athletes and spectators come together as one.

The official ceremony will begin at 15:00 with the opening announcement and the entrance of athletes. A video message of support from Kim Yun-ji, an MVP of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympic Games, will inspire athletes with hope and pride.

Following the ceremony, a celebratory performance by singer Haha will feature popular songs themed around Busan, encouraging athletes to enjoy a joyful and memorable competition.

The opening ceremony of The 20th National Youth Para Games will be open to the public, with free admission available from 14:00 on the day of the event through a designated spectator gate on the second floor of Sajik Indoor Gymnasium.

Visitors can also enjoy promotional booths and various side events set up around Asiad Sculpture Park and near the venue entrance. Due to expected congestion on the day of the ceremony, early arrival and the use of public transportation are recommended.

The city will also carry out promotional activities to encourage citizen participation in the opening ceremony. From May 4 to May 12, an attendance verification event will be held via the city’s official Instagram account (@busancity) and the official website (busan.go.kr/20_sports), offering mobile gift vouchers to selected participants through a draw.

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony of The 55th National Junior Sports Festival, which had not been held for the past 15 years due to reasons such as enhancing athletes’ focus and ensuring their right to study, will resume in Busan after 16 years, reflecting the intent to create a meaningful occasion where student athletes take center stage.

The 55th National Junior Sports Festival will be held from May 23 to May 26 over four days at 40 venues, with approximately 20,000 athletes from across the country participating and pursuing their sporting dreams.

In addition, the opening ceremony of The 55th National Junior Sports Festival will be held on May 22 at 17:00 at a specially arranged banquet hall in Exhibition Hall 2 of BEXCO under the theme “Voyage of Dreams, Busan—Into Waves of Challenge.” It will be conducted as an invitation-only pre-event dinner for athletes and officials, without general spectators.

In line with the concept of placing athletes at the center, the official ceremony will be streamlined and combined with recreational activities and a banquet.

The ceremony will feature an energetic flag-raising performance showcasing Busan’s traditional culture, presented by the Suyeong Yaryu Preservation Society and the Baeyoung Elementary School farmers’ music troupe.

In particular, the official banquet, organized in collaboration with Lotte Hotel, will present Busan-style cuisine incorporating local ingredients such as Daejeo tomatoes and Gijang Cheolma Korean beef, offering student athletes a taste and story unique to Busan.

Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-duk stated, “The 55th National Junior Sports Festival and The 20th National Youth Para Games go beyond a simple sporting event; they serve as a platform where Korea’s future generation can pursue their dreams and grow in the global hub city of Busan. In particular, the opening ceremonies of both events will place athletes at the center, and we ask for the public’s great interest and warm support so that youth para athletes and young athletes from across the country visiting Busan can feel a strong sense of pride.”