Volleyball Icon Kim Yeon-kyung Inspires Next Generation with Powerful Anti-Doping Message in Busan
Busan, South Korea – December 2, 2023 – In a significant push for ethical sportsmanship, volleyball superstar Kim Yeon-kyung joined forces with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Korea Anti-Doping Agency (KADA) today to deliver a vital message to young athletes in Busan. The event, part of the ‘WADA-KADA Athlete Committee Busan Sports Dreamers Exchange Event,’ underscored the importance of fair play and the dangers of doping, aiming to cultivate a culture of clean sport from the grassroots level up. This is a breaking news development with long-term implications for the integrity of Korean and Asian sports.
Championing Clean Sport: A Direct Connection with Student Athletes
The initiative saw WADA and KADA athlete committee members, including Olympic and Paralympic medalists, directly engage with students at Gyeongnam Girls’ Middle School and Busan Sports High School. Kim Yeon-kyung, a WADA General Assembly public relations ambassador and KADA athlete committee member, led a volleyball training program at Gyeongnam Girls’ Middle School, seamlessly integrating anti-doping education with practical advice on hydration and physical recovery. The school’s volleyball team, fresh off a remarkable five-gold-medal winning year, provided an inspiring backdrop for the event.
“I was able to feel the bright future of Korean volleyball once again through the passion and concentration shown on the court,” Kim Yeon-kyung shared. “I hope that today’s message was conveyed well that beyond good grades, it is more important to become a player who cultivates clean sports values and strives to prevent doping.”
Beyond Volleyball: Archery and Experiential Learning
At Busan Athletic High School, the focus shifted to archery, with approximately 15 WADA athletes – including IOC Athletes’ Committee Chairman Emma Terho – participating in an innovative anti-doping education program. Utilizing archery and the traditional Korean game of yut, athletes engaged students in an experiential learning environment, making the complex topic of anti-doping accessible and memorable. KADA athletes Kim Nara, Hong Seok-man, Won Yun-jong, and Ki Bo-bae also contributed to the program, sharing their expertise and personal experiences.
Ki Bo-bae, demonstrating archery techniques to skeleton athlete Elisabeth Badze, exemplified the collaborative spirit of the event. “It was fun and good to be able to understand anti-doping by playing archery and yutnori as a team with foreign athlete committee members,” said Kim Jeong-eun, a second-year archery student at Busan Physical Education High School. “I felt once again that complying with anti-doping regulations and competing fairly is a true skill under any circumstances.”
The Future of Clean Sport: A Legacy Program for Asia
The event wasn’t just a one-day occurrence; it’s a stepping stone towards a larger vision. KADA Secretary General Kim Il-hwan highlighted the event’s role in spreading a clean sports culture within the local community. Looking ahead, KADA plans to collaborate with WADA and Busan City to launch the ‘Asian Youth Clean Sports Camp’ as a lasting legacy of the WADA Busan General Assembly. This camp will bring together young athletes from across Asia for continued anti-doping education and exchange, solidifying the commitment to fair play on a regional scale.
WADA Athlete Commissioner Dora Heggy praised KADA’s experiential approach, noting its effectiveness in engaging students. “The experiential anti-doping education program developed by KADA was very interesting and impressive. The students seemed to be much more focused than the lecture-based education, and I am confident that such a program can play an important role in strengthening the effectiveness of anti-doping education.” This innovative approach to education is a model for other nations seeking to bolster their anti-doping efforts and protect the integrity of their sports programs. The emphasis on practical application and athlete-to-athlete mentorship is proving to be a powerful combination, fostering a genuine understanding of the values at stake.
The commitment demonstrated today in Busan isn’t just about preventing doping; it’s about nurturing a generation of athletes who understand that true victory lies in competing with integrity, respect, and a dedication to fair play. This initiative serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for clean sport is a collective responsibility, requiring the active participation of athletes, organizations, and communities alike. Stay tuned to archyde.com for continued coverage of this important story and the evolving landscape of sports ethics.
