2024.01.01

[Sports Chosun | Reporter Yoon Jin-man] Special Olympics Korea (President Lee Yong-hoon) successfully hosted the ‘2023 Special Olympics Awards’ ceremony.

Now in its ninth year, the ‘Special Olympics Awards’ recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the development of sports and cultural arts for people with intellectual disabilities. The award ceremony, held on December 28 of last year, honored a total of 24 individuals and 9 organizations across 19 categories.

The Achievement Award recipients were as follows: in the sports category ? athlete Won Jong-woong, coach Lee Bo-ram, and the Inje County Sports Council (organization); in the cultural arts category ? classical artist Park Soo-wan, pop artist Yang Seung-hyuk, and coach Seo Hye-yeon. The Gyeonggi Special Olympics Korea branch was recognized in the provincial branch category.

Volunteer Awards were given to: in the sports category ? volunteer Choi Hyun-joo and sport coordinator Woo Seung-baek; in the medical support category ? individuals Ryu Jae-jin and Lee Jong-soo, and organizations L Hospital and the Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness. In the cultural arts category ? volunteer Kim Yeon-woo. In the general category ? volunteers Jeon Ye-min, Park Hwa-ja, Yoon Kyung-yeol, and Park Jong-seok, as well as organizations such as the Gachon University Department of Physical Therapy and the KBU Leo Club.

Recipients of the Sponsorship Award included individuals Kim Gyu-cheol, Ju Eun Hyung, and Ahn Deok-hee (from local branches), and organizations such as Youngone Outdoor and Lotte Card. Personal awardees also included Hyun Wang-soo and Kim Sun-hee.

In the Public Relations category, journalists Yoon Jin-man of Sports Chosun, and Jeong Hyeong-geun and Bae Jeong-ho of SPOTV News were recognized, along with Sports Donga (organization). Special Contribution Award was presented to Kim Dae-jin, President of Korea National University of Arts.

A plaque of appreciation was awarded to Seo Chang-woo, President of the Seoul branch of Special Olympics Korea.

The awards ceremony featured a clarinet ensemble performance by a group of artists with intellectual disabilities, distribution of awards and commemorative gifts, and a group photo session. The event also included the presentation of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Awards.

Recipients of the ministerial awards included Kim Ki-tae (table tennis athlete) and Lee Yoon-hee (rowing coach), who won gold medals at the ‘2023 Virtus Global Games’, and Lee Eun-seo (weightlifting athlete), who gave an outstanding performance at the ‘2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin.’

President Lee Yong-hoon of Special Olympics Korea stated, “This year has been a time to witness the limitless potential of Korean athletes with intellectual disabilities and to reflect on our future direction. I express my deepest respect and gratitude to all the award recipients, athletes, coaches, volunteers, and sponsors who have brightened the Special Olympics.”

He added, “In 2024, Special Olympics Korea will continue to pursue balanced development in sports, leadership, and cultural arts programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, we will take a step closer toward realizing an inclusive society, grounded in the foundation of unified sports we’ve been cultivating.”

Yoon Jin-man | yoonjinman@sportschosun.com