"Budget burden..."'Emergency' to expand facilities at the Summer U Games

[Anchor]
Less than three years are left until the opening of the upcoming Chungcheong Summer World University Games in 2027.

As the 'low cost and high efficiency' competition is put forward, it is difficult to build infrastructure such as stadium construction due to budget problems.

I'm reporter Park Jong-hyuk of HCN Chungbuk Broadcasting.

[Reporter]
'2027 Chungcheong Province Summer World University Games' will welcome athletes from 150 countries in nine out of 18 sports, including archery and rowing, and 10 stadiums and training grounds, respectively.

A 15-day inspection of the preparations by the International University Sports Federation's International Technical Committee for the opening of the tournament earlier this month was also completed over the weekend.

In the case of Chungbuk, some facilities such as Chungju Rowing Stadium were evaluated as world-class facilities, but
There were concerns about the preparation because the
stadium's electronic display specification did not meet FISU requirements, or there was still a gym full of weeds after the groundbreaking ceremony last year.

[Lee Chang-seop / Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Summer World University Games: In general, technical committee chairmen gave many good opinions to reduce waste of budget, so this time it can be used as a reference....]

The budget was the biggest obstacle to infrastructure construction, such as stadium renovation and new construction.

Out of the total budget of 563 billion won for the Summer World University Games, only 30% of state funding is provided.

The rest must be shared by each city and province or covered by income from admission fees.

Chungju Stadium is being discussed as an alternative stadium due to the construction of Sejong Stadium, where track and field events were scheduled to be held, which is also an obstacle to the local government's budget burden.

[Ryu Hye-jin / Head of Chungcheongbuk-do International Sports Support Team: Due to budget issues, we are not telling you that we are going to run in track and field yet. If I have to do it, the budget must be put in at the national level..]

With less than three years until the opening of the Chungcheong Summer World University Games in August 2027,
Securing additional state funds through persuasion of the
government is emerging as an important task.

I'm Park Jong Hyuk of HCN News.