Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan says on March 17 that the government will do its utmost to support people with disabilities make changes in their lives. He was speaking during Paralympic Team Night at Korea House at the Gangneung Olympic Park in Gangneung.
By Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Photo = Park Jang-bhin
Gangneung | March 17, 2018
“Every flower blooms from the blessings inside itself,” said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan.
Paraphrasing a phrase from a poem by Korean poet Ryu Si-hwa, Minister Do said at “Paralympic Team Night” at Korea House at the Gangneung Olympic Park that the current Korean administration won’t spare any effort in supporting people with disabilities so that they can make true changes in their lives.
The minister mentioned the story of the family of Sin Eui Hyun, the first-ever Korean Paralympian to win a gold medal. When Sin’s daughter feels sad when she sees her father fall frequently, his wife, Kim Huiseon, told her that, “It’s alright. Your father used to fall more often, and that helped him to get to where he is today.”
Minister Do said that, “The dialogue between his wife and his daughter shows that the life of an athlete shows that they have been living their life by walking the path of countless falls, collapses and breaks.”
“The government will not forget the tears and hardship that they underwent,” said the minister.
“All the Paralympians have proved that they can change their lives through sports. They gave hope to 2.51 million people with disabilities and to their family members, which are about 10 million,” he said.
Paralympians and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan watch a video showing the highlights of the Games on March 17 during Paralympic Team Night at Korea House at the Gangneung Olympic Park in Gangneung.
Paralympic Committee President Lee Myung-ho said, “The successful hosting of the Games is backed by the hard work of the athletes who did their best in every moment of the Games and to the Korean people who gave us their strong cheers.”
Lee then encouraged the athletes to enjoy the festive mood at the event.
The special Paralympic Team Night program included video footage of highlight from the Paralympics, individual stories of the athletes, performances, and dinner. Athletes applauded with shouts of joy at some of the scenes, such as the Opening Ceremony when the para ice hockey team captain Han Minsu climbed up to the torch platform while carrying the torch. They also gave big rounds of applause when para cross-country skier Sin won a gold medal and when the video showed the Korean para ice hockey team playing against Japan.
kgh89@korea.kr
