Choi Dae-ho, the mayor of Anyang, expressed his pride on September 15 regarding the recognition of the Anyang Bandabi Sports Center as an outstanding sports facility, stating, "It is meaningful to receive national recognition just two years after opening."
On this day, Mayor Choi noted that the Anyang Bandabi Sports Center was awarded the Korea Disabled Sports Association President's Award after being selected as an outstanding facility in the '2026 Excellent Disabled Sports Facility and Disability-Friendly Public Sports Facility Certification Project' organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Disabled Sports Association.
The mayor's initiatives to expand sports welfare for people with disabilities are yielding visible results.
The evaluation process assessed disabled sports facilities nationwide based on the operation of disability programs, accessibility, facility safety management, and the utilization of sports vouchers for people with disabilities.
The Anyang Bandabi Sports Center received high marks for continuously developing and operating tailored programs that reflect the needs of disabled users.
Currently, the center offers 88 tailored courses, including 39 recreational sports programs such as basketball and table tennis, and 49 cultural and health programs like cooking and pottery, with an average of 238 visitors each day.
To enhance accessibility, the center has extended its operating hours to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, allowing citizens to utilize the sports facilities in their daily lives.
Opened in October 2024 at the Anyang Complex Cultural Center for the Disabled in Anyang 6-dong, the Bandabi Sports Center is operated by the social welfare organization 'Helping People.'
In just two years since its opening, the center has been recognized as an outstanding facility in a national evaluation, marking a significant achievement in Mayor Choi's emphasis on expanding participation in sports activities for people with disabilities and implementing community-centered welfare policies.
Mayor Choi has focused his policy efforts on expanding infrastructure to ensure that socially vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, are not excluded from sports and cultural activities, and on creating an environment where both disabled and non-disabled individuals can enjoy recreational sports together.
One citizen using the center remarked, "It used to be difficult for people with disabilities to find a comfortable place to exercise, but now I can access various programs nearby, which is satisfying. I hope Anyang continues to expand such facilities."
A family with a disabled child shared, "Not only has our child gained opportunities to exercise, but there is now a space for them to interact with others, which is the best part. We hope the programs will diversify based on user feedback in the future."
Mayor Choi emphasized, "We will continue to develop this into an open sports space for both disabled and non-disabled individuals to use together."
Meanwhile, the award ceremony and certification presentation for the outstanding facility selection will take place in mid-September.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.