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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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Shaikh Salman hails unprecedented response for AFC Asian Cup 2031™ hosting

AIPS ASIA News:

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa paid tribute to the Continent’s Member Associations (MAs) after the Confederation received a record seven Expressions of Interest (EoI) to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031™ final competition.

Chairing the 6th AFC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the eve of the 35th AFC Congress, Shaikh Salman lauded the highest ever number of EoIs received in modern history and attributed the exceptional reception to the growing prestige of Asia’s crown jewel.

Consequent to the AFC’s invitation on November 27, 2024, for all MAs to express their interest in hosting Asia’s most prestigious men’s national team tournament, the following MAs submitted their responses by the deadline of March 31, 2025:

  • Football Australia
  • All India Football Federation
  • Football Association of Indonesia
  • Korea Football Association
  • Kuwait Football Association
  • United Arab Emirates Football Association
  • Joint Bid: The Kyrgyz Football Union, Tajikistan Football Federation, and Uzbekistan Football Association
The AFC President said: “The AFC Asian Cup™ is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories, and the last edition in Qatar firmly cemented Asia’s flagship as one of the best football competitions in the world.

“The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the AFC Asian Cup™ and on behalf of the AFC Executive Committee, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation to all our MAs for outlining their ambition to extend and expand on our proud legacy.”

The 18th edition in Qatar not only broke spectatorship attendance records across the FIFA World Cup venues but also achieved 7.9 billion digital impressions. The event reached an unprecedented global audience, with 60 broadcasters covering the thrilling action in over 160 territories and nations.

With Saudi Arabia confirmed as the host for the upcoming edition in 2027 at the 33rd AFC Congress held in Manama, Bahrain, the eventual host of the AFC Asian Cup 2031™ will be expected to strengthen the Continent’s most coveted men’s national team competition.

Shaikh Salman added: “Hosting the AFC Asian Cup™ has consistently provided tangible and intangible benefits, including infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, organisational expertise, elevated football technical standards and solidifying the host nation’s status as a global sports hub.

“The unprecedented level of interest we have witnessed reflects both the high ambitions of the AFC’s Member Associations and their increasing confidence in their own capacities and capabilities to host a tournament as significant as the AFC Asian Cup™.

“Ultimately, this conviction is a tribute to the AFC’s investment in its Member Associations and further reinforces the collective strength and progress of Asian football.”

Moving forward, the AFC will now work with the Bidding MAs on the delivery of the necessary bidding documentation in accordance with the established timelines and processes, with a Bidding Workshop for the AFC Asian Cup 2031™ scheduled to be held later this month.

Thereafter, an overall evaluation of the bids will be undertaken by the AFC Administration prior to the selection of the host for the 24-team competition by the AFC Congress in 2026.

Additionally, the AFC Executive Committee ratified the decisions of all the Standing Committees, including the Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup, the AFC Finance Committee, the AFC Competitions Committee, and the AFC Professional Football Committee.

Courtesy AFC
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Shaikh Salman hails unprecedented response for AFC Asian Cup 2031™ hosting

AIPS ASIA News:

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa paid tribute to the Continent’s Member Associations (MAs) after the Confederation received a record seven Expressions of Interest (EoI) to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031™ final competition.

Chairing the 6th AFC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the eve of the 35th AFC Congress, Shaikh Salman lauded the highest ever number of EoIs received in modern history and attributed the exceptional reception to the growing prestige of Asia’s crown jewel.

Consequent to the AFC’s invitation on November 27, 2024, for all MAs to express their interest in hosting Asia’s most prestigious men’s national team tournament, the following MAs submitted their responses by the deadline of March 31, 2025:

  • Football Australia
  • All India Football Federation
  • Football Association of Indonesia
  • Korea Football Association
  • Kuwait Football Association
  • United Arab Emirates Football Association
  • Joint Bid: The Kyrgyz Football Union, Tajikistan Football Federation, and Uzbekistan Football Association
The AFC President said: “The AFC Asian Cup™ is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories, and the last edition in Qatar firmly cemented Asia’s flagship as one of the best football competitions in the world.

“The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the AFC Asian Cup™ and on behalf of the AFC Executive Committee, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation to all our MAs for outlining their ambition to extend and expand on our proud legacy.”

The 18th edition in Qatar not only broke spectatorship attendance records across the FIFA World Cup venues but also achieved 7.9 billion digital impressions. The event reached an unprecedented global audience, with 60 broadcasters covering the thrilling action in over 160 territories and nations.

With Saudi Arabia confirmed as the host for the upcoming edition in 2027 at the 33rd AFC Congress held in Manama, Bahrain, the eventual host of the AFC Asian Cup 2031™ will be expected to strengthen the Continent’s most coveted men’s national team competition.

Shaikh Salman added: “Hosting the AFC Asian Cup™ has consistently provided tangible and intangible benefits, including infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, organisational expertise, elevated football technical standards and solidifying the host nation’s status as a global sports hub.

“The unprecedented level of interest we have witnessed reflects both the high ambitions of the AFC’s Member Associations and their increasing confidence in their own capacities and capabilities to host a tournament as significant as the AFC Asian Cup™.

“Ultimately, this conviction is a tribute to the AFC’s investment in its Member Associations and further reinforces the collective strength and progress of Asian football.”

Moving forward, the AFC will now work with the Bidding MAs on the delivery of the necessary bidding documentation in accordance with the established timelines and processes, with a Bidding Workshop for the AFC Asian Cup 2031™ scheduled to be held later this month.

Thereafter, an overall evaluation of the bids will be undertaken by the AFC Administration prior to the selection of the host for the 24-team competition by the AFC Congress in 2026.

Additionally, the AFC Executive Committee ratified the decisions of all the Standing Committees, including the Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup, the AFC Finance Committee, the AFC Competitions Committee, and the AFC Professional Football Committee.

Courtesy AFC
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”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.

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