- On August 28, Minister YU In Chon, representing the Korean government, attends the Paralympic Opening Ceremony and sports ministers’ reception

- Minister YU roots for the national team athletes at their matches and engages in parasports diplomacy

Minister YU In Chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), on behalf of the government, is meeting and supporting the Korean national Paralympic team at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and engaging in international exchange focused on parasports from August 27 to 31.

Attending the Paris Paralympics Opening Ceremony and supporting Korean team athletes at key matches

After arriving in Paris on the evening of August 27 (local time), Minister YU will attend the Paris Paralympics Opening Ceremony as well as the sports ministers’ reception hosted by the French government prior to the ceremony on August 28.

The minister will visit the athletes’ village and competition venues to personally cheer on the Korean Paralympic team. On August 29, the first day of the competitions, he will watch the preliminary rounds of the men’s 100 meter butterfly, women’s 100 meter butterfly, and men’s 50 meter breaststroke in swimming, followed by the men’s individual boccia matches. At the athletes’ village, he will check on the team’s situation room, medical and scientific facilities, and dining hall, and dine with team officials to address any concerns they may have. On August 30, he will attend the men’s and women’s singles and doubles badminton matches, and, on August 31, he will watch the men’s 80 kg taekwondo match and the men’s doubles table tennis match, heartily rooting for the athletes the entire way.

Visiting the Para Team Korea House and encouraging the Korean press corps

Minister YU will also visit the Para Team Korea House, first established during the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, to lend encouragement to the staff and inspect the facilities. The venue serves as a hub for supporting the Korean team, promoting Korean culture, and advancing sports diplomacy. This year, it features extended reality (XR) sports equipment and offers opportunities to experience parasports, while promoting traditional Korean culture to international visitors. It is also introducing the 2025 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly and Korea’s policies on parasports.

On August 28, he will meet with Korean journalists covering the Paris Paralympics to express his gratitude for their efforts in highlighting the athletes’ hard work and dedication and for their role in advancing parasports.

Meeting with key figures in the global parasports community to promote the international standing of Korean parasports

Taking the opportunity of the Paris Paralympics, Minister YU will continue sports diplomacy aimed at furthering Korea’s international standing in parasports. On August 30, he will meet with Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, and leaders of the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of other countries to discuss Korea’s hosting of the 2025 IPC General Assembly, exchange insights on the challenges faced by parasports in their countries, and promote Korea’s parasports. He will also attend the Korea Night event, where he will emphasize the role of the Paralympics in fostering global solidarity and exchange within the parasports community and wish all athletes glory in their competitions, and without injuries.

On August 29, he will visit the Club France of the Paris Paralympics to tour the facilities and discuss ways to expand sports exchange between Korea and France.

Minister YU stated, “I came to Paris, where the Paralympics are being held, to support our national team on behalf of the Korean people. I am fully aware of the tremendous efforts our athletes have invested over the past four years, dedicating themselves under the banner of Korea’s national team. Their achievements and perseverance bring great pride to each athlete and are a significant honor for Korea as a whole.” He added, “I join our citizens in sincerely rooting for our team and hope that they will demonstrate their skills to the fullest and finish their competitions without injury.”