2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade tells EPIC story

Gwangju, a relatively small city in Asia with wonders quite unrevealed to the world, is set to reach out to the young people of the world. The concept of the 2015 Gwangju Universiade is ‘EPIC’. EPIC symbolizes the special story of the city of Gwangju and its dedication to the Universiade. As the acronym for Eco-friendliness, Peace, IT and Culture, EPIC strives towards a great epic celebration filled with striking impressions and fervent passion.

These four visions are the principal concepts of the Gwangju Universiade.

Eco-versiade: For sustainable development

The indispensable factor in modern-day sporting events is the preservation of the environment. Gwangju Universiade has formulated a strategy that combines the reduction of costs and preservation of the environment by minimizing new construction.

Of the 77 competition venues needed during the Universiade (42 competition venues, 35 training venues), 97.4% of the venues will be provided through the refurbishment of existing facilities. Only the swimming and gymnastics venues need to be newly constructed to meet international standards. The first strategy in making preparations for Gwangju Universiade is to minimize the financial burden while enhancing economic efficiency through the implementation of environmentally friendly and sustainable methods.

Peace-versiade: Declaring the values of democracy, human rights and peace to the world

Gwangju is a historic city that advanced Korea’s democratization process through the democratization movement that took place there on May 18, 1980. The spirit of Gwangju citizens dedicated to democracy, human rights and peace rising up against the dictatorial regime has become the model of democracy in Asia. A single inter-Korean team will be organized in the city of Gwangju where the festival of peace will unfold. The young people of South and North Korea will participate as one team to leave a deep impression on people around the world, and make progress for achieving peace on the Korean peninsula.

IT-versiade: A ubiquitous sporting event enjoyed anytime, anywhere

The Gwangju Universiade will hold the most efficient IT sporting event by broadly applying Korea’s renowned cutting-edge telecommunications technology together with Gwangju’s state-of-the-art photonics. Details on the operation of the Universiade including the schedule and results of the sports events, as well as management and information on the Universiade will be integrated to be organically linked to the Internet interface and mobile information management system. The Total Integration Management System (TIMS) enabling service anytime, anywhere by any device will be instituted.

Culture-versiade: A feast of global culture unfolded in the cultural city of Asia

Gwangju is Korea’s representative city on art and has turned out quite a number of renowned artists. The Gwangju Biennale, held since 1995 with the vision of passing on the tradition of art, is considered one of the world’s three major biennales. With the opening of the Asian Culture Complex in 2014, Gwangju is poised to take a quantum leap forward in becoming a major global cultural hub. The 2015 Gwangju Universiade will become the sports and cultural festival for university students worldwide. It will offer them the opportunity to experience the diverse culture and art of Korea as well as to share and enjoy the diverse culture of the world by integrating the cultural contents of the Asian Culture Complex. Gwangju Universiade will become a cultural Universiade that is rich in culture and filled with more artistic enjoyment than any other sporting event staged to date.

Gwangju Universiade Athletes’ Village: An eco-friendly and sustainable construction

The 2015 Gwangju Universiade has chosen a new path. It is not the large-scale development chosen by cities in the past, nor the temporary facilities abandoned after a one-time use. The financial burden for large-scale development is enormous, while temporary facilities encompass the problem of wasting resources as it is used merely once and torn down. The method chosen by Gwangju was the reconstruction of aging apartment complexes. Hwajeong and Yeomju Jugong Apartment Complexes are located within five minutes of the Gwangju World Cup Stadium, which is the main competition venue, and were thus chosen to be reconstructed. These thirty-year-old apartments will be completely renovated, used as the Athletes’ Village during the Universiade, and afterwards returned to the residents.

It is the first time in the history of sports competition in Korea that the Athletes’ Village will be built through a reconstruction project. The project is attracting attention from Korea and abroad as a means of reducing the budget and revitalizing a dilapidated urban area. Last year, the city of Gwangju gathered the opinions of local residents wishing for reconstruction, and has undergone procedures for the construction of the Athletes’ Village. Based on the consent form for reconstruction submitted by the residents in November of last year, the Gwangju City Council passed the motion supporting the construction of the Athletes’ Village last April, which provided the impetus for the project. Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. was chosen as the general contractor for this reconstruction project, which will start early next year. The subscription rate for housing by the residents who wished for reconstruction reached 96%, forecasting success for Korea’s first-ever apartment-turned Athletes’ Village.

Some 14,000 athletes from 170 nations will be housed in the Hwajeong Jugong Complex. It will be converted into lodging for athletes in 35 buildings housing 3,727 units. Included in the complex will be a cafeteria, fitness center and medical facilities for the athletes. To this end, relocation of the residents will be completed by April 2012 and the reconstruction will be completed by March, 2015. Yeomju Jugong Complex, meanwhile, will be torn down by the first half of 2013, and subsidiary convenience facilities will be built including the Cultural Plaza, parking lot and the Universiade Plaza to be used during the Universiade. Following the Universiade, more apartments will be built on this area. When the Athletes’ Village is successfully completed in March of 2015 through reconstruction, it is expected to open a new era in the history of sports facilities in Korea.

2015 GWANGJU SUMMER UNIVERSIADE Period – July 2015 (13 days) Main Venue – Gwangju World Cup Stadium Host – International University Sports Federation (FISU) Organizers – Korea University Sports Board(KUSB) 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee Sports – 21 (Compulsory 13 / Optional 8 ) Compulsory sports – Athletics / Basketball / Fencing / Soccer / Gymnastics(2) / Swimming(3) / Tennis / Volleyball / Judo / Table tennis Optional sports – Taekwondo / Badminton / Golf / Handball / Archery / Shooting / Rowing / Baseball Participants – 20,000 people from 170 countries (including 14,000 athletes & officials)