AG 메달 영웅들 전북에 집결…12일 개막 전국체전 '볼거리 잔치'

The nation's largest annual sporting competition is back.
The 99th National Sports Festival kicked off today with an opening ceremony in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do Province.
Won Jung-hwan provides a glimpse of what to expect from this year's edition.

For a full week every October, the nation's highest-level athletes gather to compete at an annual sporting competition held in the country.
And this year's edition... kicked off with an opening ceremony in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do Province on Friday evening.
“I hereby declare the opening of the 99th National Sports Festival in Jeollabuk-do Province, for citizens nationwide and all the athletes taking part.”
Some 25-thousand athletes from the country's 17 provinces and major cities... will compete in 46 medal events... in 14 cities and counties across Jeollabuk-do Province until next Thursday.
"While the athletes ranging from high school students to Olympic medalists are gathered here at the province,… everyone has one goal in mind... To win a gold medal in front of their home fans."
Among the athletes,… heroes from the 2018 Asian Games are once again vying for a spot at the podium,... except this time,... they're competing on home soil against their former teammates.
Gold medal winners like Kim Seo-yeong, Jung Hye-lim and Na Ah-reum are all ready for action... to continue their sporting success.
A large spotlight has also been cast on the MVP of last year's event,... swimmer Park Tae-hwan,... who is looking to win his 6th MVP award at this year's games.
Looking briefly ahead towards next year, the National Sports Festival will hold its 100th, centennial event,... with the Seoul government pushing to secure North Korea's participation in the games.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News, Iksan.