GWANGJU – Volunteers play a crucial role in any type of international sports events. A great example were the “Game Makers” who landed their helping hand as the supporters’ group during the 2012 London Olympics. The Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) reflected such efforts and started to organize groups of volunteers from an early date.
Ten thousand people are scheduled to work as volunteers during the Gwangju Universiade. They will work as civil diplomats in Gwangju, South and North Jeolla Provinces and North Chungcheong Province throughout the Universiade period.
A special ceremony on May 30 was launched to celebrate the “U-supporters”. The ceremony officially proclaims the start of their support and pledge to work as a sincere member of the Universiade.
Seven thousand volunteers participated in the ceremony, and the GUOC Presidents Yoon Jang-hyun and Kim Hwang-sik gave their utmost support throughout the event.
The ceremony included two volunteers who took an oath for their commitment for the games, musical performances, and a briefing of the Universiade’s official interpretation application service.
The supporters will carry out various activities at each and every corner of the Universiade as event personnel, transporters or interpreters. The GUOC has been implementing various occupational education programs to nurture quality staff and volunteers.
From November 2014 to February this year, the GUOC has selected 10,000 supporters through exams and interviews. The supporters will be dispatched to many different competition venues and administrative divisions.
KEPCO purchases Universiade Tickets worth 200 million KRW
GUOC President and Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun and KEPCO CEO Cho Hwan-eik
The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) bought 200 million won (USD 180,000) worth of the Gwangju Universiade tickets on 29 May. KEPCO CEO Cho Hwan-eik and the GUOC President Yoon Jan-hyun signed an agreement at the Gwangju City Hall to purchase 200 million won worth of Universiade tickets. It is the largest purchase made by far from a single organization.
President Yoon Jang-hyun said, “The Gwangju Universiade appreciates KEPCO for the purchase as it is only 35 days until the start of the games. The GUOC will maintain a cooperative relationship with KEPCO, which has sparked a partnership towards a brighter future of the Gwangju-Naju region.”
(Source: GUOC 2015)