Publications
”More>>”
Videos
”More>>”

Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with the Jeonbuk State Office of Education and Jeonbuk Physicl Education Middle & High School, is continuing international exchange and friendship through sports by delivering sports equipment donated by students to youth in three African nations. On the 5th, the State and the Office of Education held a send-off ceremony at Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School for the project titled “Re; Play Together, Jeonbuk Sports Friendship Gifts,” shipping the items to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. The theme, ‘Re; Play Together,’ signifies resuming games (Re; Play) that had been halted due to a shortage of soccer balls and sports gear, this time together with Jeonbuk.

This initiative goes beyond mere material support; it aims to practice solidarity and friendship across borders through sports and to expand the foundation for exchange among future generations. In particular, sharing equipment that students actually used spreads the value of sharing while extending Jeonbuk’s international sports diplomacy into schools and the local community. The project originated from visits last year by officials from Zimbabwe and Namibia, with whom Jeonbuk has maintained international sports exchanges. During their visit to Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School, they requested support for sports equipment. Students readily agreed to contribute, leading to a broader international exchange program supported by the State, the Office of Education, and the school. The donated items total 616 pieces across 12 sports, including soccer, taekwondo, shooting, archery, swimming, etc. —comprising both gear previously used by students and new items collected for this project. The equipment will be delivered to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and National Olympic Committees of each country via Zimbabwean diplomatic missions and international shipping. It will then be distributed to young athletes and youth active in organizations such as the Kirsty Coventry Academy in Zimbabwe, the Waitaka Taekwondo Club in Kenya, and the MTC Hopsol Youth Soccer League in Namibia.

Kim Jong-phil, Director General of Jeonbuk State’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid Department, stated: “I hope the precious sports items that nurtured the dreams of our Jeonbuk students will serve as a new source of hope for African youth. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchange through sports, guided by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) core values of inclusion and solidarity.” Im Young-gun, Director of Arts, Physical Ed & Health Division at the Jeonbuk State Office of Education, said, “It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put into practice the spirit of sportsmanship through sharing and caring while developing a global perspective. We hope that the students’ small but heartfelt gesture will be warmly received by young people in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been steadily expanding its international sports network by dispatching a Taekwondo demonstration team to the World Taekwondo U-21 Championship in Kenya, participating in the World Union of Olympic Cities General Assembly, and broadening sports exchanges with African nations. Starting with the “Sports Friendship Gift” pilot project, Jeonbuk State plans to consider expanding the countries and sports covered by the initiative, while also promoting the hosting of international sporting events and exchange programs inviting young athletes from overseas, with the goal of developing Jeonbuk into a specialized international sports city.

Events
”More>>”
Journalists on the podium
”More>>”
Advertisement
Young Reporter’s corner
”More>>”

AFC Conference 2025 Ends with Renewed Drive for Asian Footbal

Riyadh, October 24, 2025: The AFC Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2025 closed today in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with global football leaders and leading industry experts reaffirming their unwavering support of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s ambitions to further uplift the Asian game.

The Conference, hosted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), featured its final cast of renowned speakers, who shared their knowledge and experience on key aspects of the game. The three-day Conference, now a key fixture in the AFC calendar, brought together some of the game’s most respected figures, including AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and SAFF President Yasser Hassan M Almisehal. Heather Garriock, the interim CEO and General Secretary of Football Australia, set the tone for the day with her presentation on the tactical ways in which football functions as a business, which was followed by an intriguing session from Riges Younan, the Global VP of work orchestration platform Gloat on the incorporation of artificial intelligence to enhance the beautiful game.
Meanwhile, Director of Strategy, City Football Group, Patrick Knight, who was the final speaker of the day, took the audience through City Football Group’s global journey and its remarkable evolution into a unified football ecosystem.

Shaikh Salman, in his closing speech, said: “This Conference has once again given us a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress and, more importantly, to facilitate forward-looking discussions. It has also given us renewed optimism and energy to bring the Asian game to even greater heights. “The AFC is at a crucial moment in its history, guided by our governance reforms and revamped competitions. As we write this bold and exciting new chapter, we remain dedicated to introducing innovative programmes for our Member Associations and Regional Associations and ushering in a new era where football excellence is driven by the AFC and its members.” Reflecting on the learning experience over the course of the three days, South Asian Football Federation General Secretary Purushottam Kattel said: “This Conference encapsulates the AFC’s Vision and Mission of becoming a model Confederation and underlines its commitment to advance its MAs and RAs on all fronts. This is the only way Asian football can continue to move forward and set new milestones.”

Meanwhile, East Asian Football Federation General Secretary Yosuke Mihara said the Conference showcased influential speakers capable of bringing about positive change: “The speakers and panellists are of the highest calibre, and their insights and opinions will prove valuable in driving the progress of our MAs and RAs and help them keep abreast of an ever-evolving global football environment.”

Partners
Advertisement

AFC Conference 2025 Ends with Renewed Drive for Asian Footbal

Riyadh, October 24, 2025: The AFC Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2025 closed today in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with global football leaders and leading industry experts reaffirming their unwavering support of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s ambitions to further uplift the Asian game.

The Conference, hosted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), featured its final cast of renowned speakers, who shared their knowledge and experience on key aspects of the game. The three-day Conference, now a key fixture in the AFC calendar, brought together some of the game’s most respected figures, including AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and SAFF President Yasser Hassan M Almisehal. Heather Garriock, the interim CEO and General Secretary of Football Australia, set the tone for the day with her presentation on the tactical ways in which football functions as a business, which was followed by an intriguing session from Riges Younan, the Global VP of work orchestration platform Gloat on the incorporation of artificial intelligence to enhance the beautiful game.
Meanwhile, Director of Strategy, City Football Group, Patrick Knight, who was the final speaker of the day, took the audience through City Football Group’s global journey and its remarkable evolution into a unified football ecosystem.

Shaikh Salman, in his closing speech, said: “This Conference has once again given us a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress and, more importantly, to facilitate forward-looking discussions. It has also given us renewed optimism and energy to bring the Asian game to even greater heights. “The AFC is at a crucial moment in its history, guided by our governance reforms and revamped competitions. As we write this bold and exciting new chapter, we remain dedicated to introducing innovative programmes for our Member Associations and Regional Associations and ushering in a new era where football excellence is driven by the AFC and its members.” Reflecting on the learning experience over the course of the three days, South Asian Football Federation General Secretary Purushottam Kattel said: “This Conference encapsulates the AFC’s Vision and Mission of becoming a model Confederation and underlines its commitment to advance its MAs and RAs on all fronts. This is the only way Asian football can continue to move forward and set new milestones.”

Meanwhile, East Asian Football Federation General Secretary Yosuke Mihara said the Conference showcased influential speakers capable of bringing about positive change: “The speakers and panellists are of the highest calibre, and their insights and opinions will prove valuable in driving the progress of our MAs and RAs and help them keep abreast of an ever-evolving global football environment.”

Publications
”More>>”
Videos
”More>>”

Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with the Jeonbuk State Office of Education and Jeonbuk Physicl Education Middle & High School, is continuing international exchange and friendship through sports by delivering sports equipment donated by students to youth in three African nations. On the 5th, the State and the Office of Education held a send-off ceremony at Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School for the project titled “Re; Play Together, Jeonbuk Sports Friendship Gifts,” shipping the items to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. The theme, ‘Re; Play Together,’ signifies resuming games (Re; Play) that had been halted due to a shortage of soccer balls and sports gear, this time together with Jeonbuk.

This initiative goes beyond mere material support; it aims to practice solidarity and friendship across borders through sports and to expand the foundation for exchange among future generations. In particular, sharing equipment that students actually used spreads the value of sharing while extending Jeonbuk’s international sports diplomacy into schools and the local community. The project originated from visits last year by officials from Zimbabwe and Namibia, with whom Jeonbuk has maintained international sports exchanges. During their visit to Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School, they requested support for sports equipment. Students readily agreed to contribute, leading to a broader international exchange program supported by the State, the Office of Education, and the school. The donated items total 616 pieces across 12 sports, including soccer, taekwondo, shooting, archery, swimming, etc. —comprising both gear previously used by students and new items collected for this project. The equipment will be delivered to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and National Olympic Committees of each country via Zimbabwean diplomatic missions and international shipping. It will then be distributed to young athletes and youth active in organizations such as the Kirsty Coventry Academy in Zimbabwe, the Waitaka Taekwondo Club in Kenya, and the MTC Hopsol Youth Soccer League in Namibia.

Kim Jong-phil, Director General of Jeonbuk State’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid Department, stated: “I hope the precious sports items that nurtured the dreams of our Jeonbuk students will serve as a new source of hope for African youth. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchange through sports, guided by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) core values of inclusion and solidarity.” Im Young-gun, Director of Arts, Physical Ed & Health Division at the Jeonbuk State Office of Education, said, “It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put into practice the spirit of sportsmanship through sharing and caring while developing a global perspective. We hope that the students’ small but heartfelt gesture will be warmly received by young people in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been steadily expanding its international sports network by dispatching a Taekwondo demonstration team to the World Taekwondo U-21 Championship in Kenya, participating in the World Union of Olympic Cities General Assembly, and broadening sports exchanges with African nations. Starting with the “Sports Friendship Gift” pilot project, Jeonbuk State plans to consider expanding the countries and sports covered by the initiative, while also promoting the hosting of international sporting events and exchange programs inviting young athletes from overseas, with the goal of developing Jeonbuk into a specialized international sports city.

Events
”More>>”
Journalists on the podium
”More>>”
Advertisement
Young Reporter’s corner
”More>>”
Partners
Advertisement

All News

Video Gallery