"We Will Unleash Everything We've Prepared": Korean Athletes at Asian Games Hold Final Pledge Ceremony to Excel [Jincheon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"We will compete fairly on the Asian stage and do our best."

The South Korean delegation preparing for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games has pledged to perform well. The Korean Olympic Committee held a determination ceremony for the Asian Games delegation at 3 p.m. on the 3rd at the national representative athletes' village in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province. Approximately 800 people attended the ceremony, including members of the delegation, government officials, executives from the Korean Olympic Committee, and representatives from affiliated organizations. The expressions of the athletes attending the ceremony reflected both firm determination and excitement.

Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Olympic Committee, said at the opening ceremony, "As an athlete who has stood on the Asian Games stage twice, I know better than anyone your expectations and excitement ahead of this tournament, as well as the responsibility and burden of Han Min-guk-eul (CEO)." He urged, "Now, please believe in yourselves, your teammates and coaches who have shared the sweat you've shed, and the journey you have taken up to today."

Yoo Seung-min (Chairman) said, "Rather than feeling burdened by the results, we hope you will perform everything you have prepared so far on the field without regret and compete confidently with Asia's top players." He added, "Each of your challenges is a testament to the strength of South Korean sports and will bring great inspiration and hope to the nation. With the pride of being South Korea's national representatives in your hearts, we hope you will fully showcase everything you have prepared so far."

President Lee Jae-myung, in a congratulatory message read on his behalf by Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "I am truly proud of the athletes who have continued to challenge their own limits while wearing the national emblem on their chests, and of the coaches who have silently stood by them with dedication." He added, "I am confident that the sight of our athletes giving everything without giving up until the end will bring great inspiration and courage to the people of the Republic of Korea and the entire world. I sincerely support the brilliant challenges of the national team representatives of the Republic of Korea."

Lee Sang-hyun, head of the Asian Games delegation, said through a site visit, "You have endured countless hours of training and competition to reach this moment. You have also continuously challenged your limits." He added, "I hope you believe in yourselves who have diligently prepared and give your best until the final moment to put on a regret-free performance."

The director added, "I hope you approach the game with pride in being a national representative of the Republic of Korea. Go beyond your determination to win and fully display the skills you have honed so far; I ask that you focus on the moment itself of competing against Asia's top players as a national representative of the Republic of Korea." He also said, "I hope you proudly showcase everything you have prepared thus far in Aichi and Nagoya while wearing the Taegeukgi on your chest."

The ceremony that day proceeded with the introduction of the athlete delegation, awarding of short-term honors, screening of a video supporting the athletes, and a cheer-up ceremony. The Korean Olympic Committee introduced the delegation by breaking down SPORT into Speed (S·quickly), Power (P·strongly), One Team (O·together), Race (R·until the end), and Technique (T·precisely). Videos supporting the Asian Games athlete delegation, including citizens, Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) for each sport, and candidate athletes, were screened.

The 20th Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games, set to open on the 19th in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, Japan, will feature participation from approximately 15,000 athletes from 45 countries across 43 sports, 71 disciplines, and 469 events. South Korea will send a delegation of 1,052 members, including 792 athletes, 219 officials, and 41 staff, to compete in 41 sports. The goal for the South Korean delegation is to win between 40 and 45 gold medals and secure third place overall.

South Korea maintained second place in the overall standings from the 2002 Busan Games through the 2014 Incheon Games, but was pushed down to third place behind China and Japan at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang (Indonesia) Games. The country also failed to reclaim second place at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, where it won 49 and 42 gold medals respectively. For this tournament, the South Korean team set its primary goal of maintaining third place in the overall standings by securing a number of gold medals comparable to those achieved in the previous two editions.

The Korean Sports Council identified archery (5), swimming, shooting, fencing, and taekwondo (4 each) as sports expected to yield three or more gold medals. Judo, table tennis, modern pentathlon, and e-sports are targeted for two gold medals each, while athletics, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, handball, yachting, sepaktakraw, sport climbing, wushu, jiu-jitsu, and krashido are also designated as gold medal target sports.

On this day, after concluding the departure ceremony, the South Korean delegation will see its first contingent depart on the 4th, the second contingent on the 10th, and the main team on the 17th. The Asian Games opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on the 19th, and the closing ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. next month on the 4th.

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*This content was translated by AI.