Culture ministry to welcome para athletes home from Asian Para Games

The culture ministry will welcome South Korea's Asian Para Games delegation home on Sunday.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Paralympic Committee will hold the reception at 4:30 p.m. at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport, the ministry said. About 300 people are expected, among them chef de mission Park Heung-sik, the athletes, their families and officials.

The ceremony will include a report on the team's results and the handover of the delegation flag, formally ending the Games schedule. The ministry said the event is meant to convey thanks and encouragement to the athletes who competed on the Asian stage and to recognize everyone who helped with preparations and support on site.

South Korean athletes entered all 18 events, a list that includes athletics, boccia, blind football, judo, weightlifting and swimming, and competed against athletes from across Asia.

The ministry said it will work to carry attention from the national team's performances into community programmes, so that more people with disabilities can take part in sport close to home.

"I welcome home the South Korean team, who did their utmost on the Asian stage," said Kang Dae-geum, the ministry's sports cooperation officer. "The ministry will keep working so that the wonderful challenges the athletes showed lead to interest in and support for disability sport, and so that more people with disabilities can gain joy and energy through sport."