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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.

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Japan’s landmark triumph commended by AFC President

AIPS ASIA News:

Against the backdrop of a historic showpiece for women’s futsal in Asia, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, has congratulated Japan on lifting their maiden AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ title after the East Asians defeated Thailand 3-2 on penalties in a riveting final at the Hohhot Sports Centre on Saturday.
 
Runners-up at each of the previous two editions, Japan twice took the lead only to be pegged back by first-time finalists Thailand, the third-place finishers in 2015 and 2018. Japan then had to come back in extra time to level proceedings after the Thais took the lead for the first time and with both unable to be separated, it was Japan who held their nerve to lift the trophy.
 
Japan, Thailand and third-placed Islamic Republic of Iran will join hosts, the Philippines, as Asia’s four representatives at the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, which will take place from November 21 to December 7, 2025.
 
Shaikh Salman said: “I am heartened by the incredible progress of women’s futsal in Asia in recent years and this has been underlined by the first-ever qualifying campaign to be organised in the lead-up to the 2025 Finals, so on behalf of the AFC, I would like to put on record my sincere appreciation to all our Participating Member Associations, both in the Qualifiers and Finals.
 
“When we started this journey in 2015, few Member Associations had a women’s futsal squad and now we are seeing the powerful impact of top-level competitions, as underlined in the AFC’s Vision and Mission, to fuel the development of the game.
 
“We have witnessed some captivating action in Hohhot in the last 12 days and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to both our newly crowned champions Japan, now the first to win every AFC Asian Cup™ across all age-groups and senior level, both men’s and women’s, as well as runners-up Thailand. Our praise must also go to the Japan Football Association and The Football Association of Thailand for their dedication to advance the growth of the game at all levels.”
 
The AFC President was also unreserved in his praise towards the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the local organisers for their unwavering support and outstanding hosting of the competition.
 
“Developing the women’s game, both in football and futsal, remains at the forefront of the AFC’s efforts and we must convey our profound gratitude to the Local Organising Committee, as well as the Chinese FA who will also be hosting the decisive stages of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ in Wuhan next week,” Shaikh Salman said.
 
“Even before the first whistle was blown in Hohhot, the CFA’s commitment to provide an exceptional stage for our women’s futsal players to showcase their talent has been truly inspiring and we thank them for their contributions towards elevating the standards of women’s futsal in Asia.
 
“Now, as we shift our attention to the Philippines, we wish the Philippine Football Federation, and our four Asian teams, the very best of success at the milestone global showpiece later this year.”

Courtesy AFC

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Japan’s landmark triumph commended by AFC President

AIPS ASIA News:

Against the backdrop of a historic showpiece for women’s futsal in Asia, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, has congratulated Japan on lifting their maiden AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ title after the East Asians defeated Thailand 3-2 on penalties in a riveting final at the Hohhot Sports Centre on Saturday.
 
Runners-up at each of the previous two editions, Japan twice took the lead only to be pegged back by first-time finalists Thailand, the third-place finishers in 2015 and 2018. Japan then had to come back in extra time to level proceedings after the Thais took the lead for the first time and with both unable to be separated, it was Japan who held their nerve to lift the trophy.
 
Japan, Thailand and third-placed Islamic Republic of Iran will join hosts, the Philippines, as Asia’s four representatives at the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, which will take place from November 21 to December 7, 2025.
 
Shaikh Salman said: “I am heartened by the incredible progress of women’s futsal in Asia in recent years and this has been underlined by the first-ever qualifying campaign to be organised in the lead-up to the 2025 Finals, so on behalf of the AFC, I would like to put on record my sincere appreciation to all our Participating Member Associations, both in the Qualifiers and Finals.
 
“When we started this journey in 2015, few Member Associations had a women’s futsal squad and now we are seeing the powerful impact of top-level competitions, as underlined in the AFC’s Vision and Mission, to fuel the development of the game.
 
“We have witnessed some captivating action in Hohhot in the last 12 days and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to both our newly crowned champions Japan, now the first to win every AFC Asian Cup™ across all age-groups and senior level, both men’s and women’s, as well as runners-up Thailand. Our praise must also go to the Japan Football Association and The Football Association of Thailand for their dedication to advance the growth of the game at all levels.”
 
The AFC President was also unreserved in his praise towards the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the local organisers for their unwavering support and outstanding hosting of the competition.
 
“Developing the women’s game, both in football and futsal, remains at the forefront of the AFC’s efforts and we must convey our profound gratitude to the Local Organising Committee, as well as the Chinese FA who will also be hosting the decisive stages of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ in Wuhan next week,” Shaikh Salman said.
 
“Even before the first whistle was blown in Hohhot, the CFA’s commitment to provide an exceptional stage for our women’s futsal players to showcase their talent has been truly inspiring and we thank them for their contributions towards elevating the standards of women’s futsal in Asia.
 
“Now, as we shift our attention to the Philippines, we wish the Philippine Football Federation, and our four Asian teams, the very best of success at the milestone global showpiece later this year.”

Courtesy AFC

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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.

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