EPIC Sports Festival Coming to Gwangju

The 28th Summer Universiade will be held in Gwangju and all across Jeolla Province from the 3rd to the 14th of July 2015. 

Under the slogan “Light up tomorrow,” the global sports event for university students will bring together more than 20,000 participants from 170 countries.

The athletes will be competing in 13 compulsory and 8 optional sports in 37 venues. To make it an environmentally-friendly competition, the construction of new stadiums will be minimized.    

The 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade is also preparing for a global festival, harmonizing sports with the city’s existing resources. It is represented by the acronym EPIC, standing for Eco, Peace, IT, and Culture.

Meanwhile, the Gwangju Universiade will conduct joint U.N. projects during this year 2015, which are EPIC'S Forum and Youth Leadership Programme. The Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee will also implement the legacy programs until 2015 in cooperation with the International University Sports Federation (FISU), such as the Young Reporters Program and Anti-Doping E-textbook Development Project. 

Olympics sports stars Ki Bo-bae, Son Yeon-jae, Yang Hak-seon, Choi Eun-sook, and K-pop singer Miss A Suzy were appointed as promotional ambassadors of the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade, and will cooperate together for a successful games.

The Vision of the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade is EPIC

The Gwangju Universiade aims to contribute to the growth of youth’s dreams and challenges by sharing its EPIC values with the world through projects in cooperation with international organizations such as the FISU, U.N., WADA, and others. 

ECO-versiade: With the new paradigm in sporting events, the host city of Gwangju will present a Universiade built on an environmentally-friendly foundation by recovering the city to its natural existence and carrying out eco-friendly construction.

Peace-versiade: Emphasizing the spirit of Gwangju, which has become a role model of democracy in Asia today, the Gwangju Universiade is conducting projects that will pass on the value of peace and human rights to the youth of the world.

IT-versiade: Using information and communication technology of Korea and the latest optical electronic technology of the City of Light, Gwangju, the 2015 Summer Universiade will provide an optimal environment for both athletes and spectators to enjoy dynamic competition. 

Culture-versiade: As a city of culture and arts, Gwangju will provide a cultural festival for the world’s youth to share and blend their diverse cultures. 

The City of Light, full of passion for art and humanity, Gwangju is truly realizing its value as a Sports Loving City, upgrading the city’s brand value and enhancing the quality of life for the local citizens, by hosting the 2015 Summer Universiade.