President Lee Jae-myung Encourages Asian Games Athletes: "You Are All Proud Champions; Thank You for Your Hard Work" [Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games]

*This content was translated by AI.

On the 4th, President Lee Jae-myung sent a message of warm encouragement and gratitude to the South Korean delegation that competed in the "2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games," which concluded with the closing ceremony on the same day. He stated, "Every athlete who gave their best in each event and challenged their own limits is a proud champion of South Korea."

On the afternoon of the 4th, President Lee posted on his social media, "Our approximately 800 athletes competed passionately across 41 sports at the Han Min-guk-eul (CEO)," adding, "There were moments of joy and moments of regret, but there must have been sweat and effort that cannot be fully measured by the color or number of medals." He commended the athletes' hard work.

The South Korean team finished the tournament in third place overall, securing 39 gold, 43 silver, and 68 bronze medals, trailing China (169 gold, 89 silver, 83 bronze) and Japan (83 gold, 95 silver, 91 bronze). While some traditional medal-strong events left room for improvement, the team achieved notable results in ball sports such as football, which won its fourth consecutive Asian Games title, as well as baseball, basketball, and women's handball, along with fencing and newly introduced events.

President Lee repeatedly emphasized the sportsmanship and national solidarity displayed by the athletes, regardless of their results. He said, "The athletes who competed fairly and challenged their limits, as well as the citizens who supported the athletes with one heart and mind, sharing in both victory and defeat, are the true protagonists who shone at this tournament." He added, "I hope the passion and indomitable spirit you have shown will become a solid strength for moving forward toward even greater dreams."

He also expressed gratitude to the support staff who silently stood by the athletes' side behind the scenes. President Lee said, "I would like to express my deep thanks to all coaches, officials, and support staff who worked hard and prepared together in places unseen."

President Lee then promised, "We will continue to cheer for the strong challenges of South Korean athletes at the Asian Para Games, which open on October 18, alongside our citizens," concluding his message with, "To all members of the South Korean delegation, thank you for your hard work. You are all proud champions of South Korea."

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*This content was translated by AI.