ⓒ 2002 WATV

One Asia, global Busan!

On September 29, 2002, the 14th Busan Asian Games were opened with about 9,900 athletes and staffs from 44 OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) countries including North Korea, and promoted friendly relations with one another.
At this 14th Asian Games, some energetic people made the stadium enliven. They are the supporters of Church of God, World Mission Society.

Church of God has ever conducted a campaign'Bring Back Trash'at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. At this time, the members of Church of God in Busan area wholeheartedly supported the teams from small countries that didn't send their own supporters and also the countries which their missionaries have been sent to. They created an encouraging atmosphere, catching the eyes of all people in the stadium.

While the eyes of media and most people were focused on North Korean supporters and popular sports, the members of Church of God supported heartily the athletes participating in unpopular sport events.

Athletes and their staffs were cheered by their encouraging support and played a better game than expected, seeing pickets and placards with some passages written in their languages.

Pastor Pyo Gi-sang who cooperated with Busan City in the matter of support activities said, "In every stadium, the country we supported made a good record and the atmosphere was highly elated. Officials understood the importance of supporters and positively helped us; they provided us with cheering uniforms, handflags including lunch and free entrance ticketsat first they were not willing to help us. Many religious organizations promised to come to support, but none of them kept their promise. That was why our support became the center of attention."

During the Asian Games, the supporters of Church of God performed the role of nongovernmental diplomats. They didn't stop support activities until October 14, the closing day.