Sports organization to hold int’l conference to celebrate 1988 Seoul Olympics

The Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (KAHPERD) announced Monday it will host an academic conference this week to commemorate the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games. The 36th International Sport Science Congress will run Thursday and Friday at Sun Moon University in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, KAHPERD said. Under the theme "Cultural Diversity in Sport," the academic conference will feature four presentations by international scholars on the first day and events for 16 partner organizations on the second day. Choi Dong-ju, professor at Sookmyung Women's University's School of Global Service, will open Thursday's session with a presentation titled, "The Better Policy Governance for Global Sport Empowerment." Jorg Thiele, professor of sport pedagogy at TU Dortmund University, will then present on the topic of "Digital Culture, Anthropology and Sports." Senshi Fukashiro, president of Japan Women's College of Physical Education, will discuss the future of the world from a biomechanical point of view. Jung Young-mi of Shokei University and Lim Chang-hyun of Newcastle University will also give presentations Thursday. Jung's session will discuss "differences in perception of good major classes, as perceived by Korean and Japanese preservice teachers," with a focus on physical health, while Lim will look into strategies for "optimal anabolic response to plant-based protein in diverse cultures." The second day will feature sessions by 16 partner organizations. According to KAHPERD, Lee Kee-heung, president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee, and Yu In-chon, minister of culture, sports and tourism, will offer congratulatory messages. "We hope this conference will be an opportunity for participants to share the latest international trends and information in sports through scholars invited from Germany, Britain and Japan and also enhance communication on the topic of cultural diversity," KAHPERD President Lee Han-kyung said. "We also hope to raise the profile of KAHPERD with a successful hosting of the conference." Source: Yonhap News Agency