Group photo of the local football competition

Special Olympics Korea held its local football competition during May 31 to June 1 in Mokpo City, Jeonnam Prov. Korea. There were 64 SO athletes took part in the activity.

Though SO Korea has had a great potential for football, only less than a hundred athletes annually played football since most of the competition has been held around at Seoul area. And this was a first step for SO Korea to get wider to develop Special Olympics football initiative in the local area.

The very first local competition for football event

The Number of registered athletes in football event at 2008 SO Korea National Summer Games during 21-24 Aug. is more than ever. It grew up consequently after many coaches got interested in Special Olympics football. This year, SO Korea has already more than 200 athletes registered for football so far, and it will be huge augmentation with more than 400 athletes expected including trainees.

Number of athletes increased

Volunteers for Special Smiles and Fit Feet have conducted Healthy Athletes program during the competition. All the athletes have been screened, especially Fit Feet program was offered for the first time in Korea and took a nice reaction from football participants.

Fit Feet program offered

Smiles program offered

 

  Even though football’s reputation is tremendous in Korea, SO Korea didn’t really make a success to get professional star player or football team and related company involved in Special Olympics. SO Korea is planning to open many events in the future, in order that our athletes could get most of opportunity with support from a lot of sources.

 

SO Korea's Football initiative in future