2002, a hectic year

Described as Land of the Morning Calm and Light of the East, South Korea and its 45.9 million population is set to host two of the world's most exciting sports events in 2002 and give its best welcome to the participating delegates, guests and dignitaries.

The first major event is the biggest soccer competition on Earth: the 2002 FIFA World Cup, to be held from May 31 to June 30, cohosted by neighboring Japan.

Three months after that, the peninsula will host the 14th Asian Games in Busan, the nation's largest port city, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.

"We are striving for the most exemplary first World Cup football games of the 21st century under the slogan and ideals of 'New Millennium, New Encounter, New Start'," says Dr. Park, Seh- Jik, chairman of the Korean Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup (KOWOC).

A busy year indeed for South Korea, a leading name in the sports world, whose national team has qualified six times in the World Cup finals since 1986.

With 240 days to the first kick-off, the Korean government and its people are still gearing up to serve the best for the tens of thousands of players and spectators coming to compete and witness these international events.

Outside the country, billions of people will be watching the world's greatest game with a Korean touch that will bring together the spirit of sportsmanship, joy and peace.

Already held in 13 nations, next year's FIFA World Cup is dubbed as the first ever to be held in the Asia continent. It is also the first in the 71-year history of FIFA to put the world soccer game into the hands of two countries.

In accordance with deals reached by Korea and Japan, the opening ceremony and opening match will be held in Seoul, with the final's match in Tokyo.

KOWOC has estimated that the games will witness some 13,000 outsiders, including 32 teams, FIFA representatives and media personnel from various parts of the world.

Thus, through the World Cup, Korea -- which hosted the 1988 Olympic Games -- will have the opportunity to present a dynamic image to the world and also help build a closer relationship with Japan through reconciliation and cooperation in a mutual endeavor on the world forum.

Currently, 10 major cities in Korea -- Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Taejon, Taegu, Jeonju, Ulsan, Gwangju, Busan and Seogwipo -- are beautifying and even constructing new stadiums for the month-long spectacular event.

Taegu's stadium is the largest with a seating capacity of 70,140. The second largest is Sangam stadium in Seoul with seating for 63,390. As a comparison, Jakarta's Senayan stadium was built with seating for 110,000.

Seven new stadiums planned for Busan, Taegu and Incheon will be exclusively dedicated to soccer and boast artistic designs and excellent viewing for spectators.

Some of the stadiums have been completed and successfully tested. Sangan stadium, venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony and match, will open on Nov. 11.

The main stadium at Busan Sports Complex will host three World Cup games and later will be used as the main stadium for the 14th Asian Games.

Taking place every four years and aimed at promoting friendship and exchanges among the 43 members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the 2002 Asian Games come with the theme of New Vision, New Asia.

An estimated 18,000 athletes and officials from all OCA countries will converge in Busan to compete in 38 events.

The organizers believe that the games will serve to symbolize the unity and hope of 3.6 billion Asians.

Busan, the center of economy of southeast Korea, is surrounded by mountains and the sea, with the beautiful Nakdonggang River flowing through the city. The most popular tourist sites of the city include Beomeosa, one of the five largest Buddhist temples in Korea, Mt. Geumjeongsan, the largest mountain fortress in the country, and United Nations Park, the only international cemetery in the world dedicated to UN soldiers who paid the ultimate price for freedom during the Korean War.

Tickets, mascots

For the 2002 World Cup, 741,000 tickets allotted to KOWOC for sale have already been in second-round sales, with prices ranging from 110,000 won (US$100) to 550,000 won. More than half of the tickets are estimated to be sold out in the second-phase, which began on Sept. 17.

In the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the U.S., the security control body for the World Cup has decided to reevaluate and reinforce security measures for the tournament.

Korea and cohost Japan have also come out with an official World Cup poster and mascots.

The poster reflects the culture of both the football game and of the two host nations. Calligraphy is used to create a universal icon -- the football pitch -- to provide a powerful and logical response to the brief. Brushstrokes and calligraphy reflect values such as drama, speed, agility and skill inherent in football.

The mascots, three 3-D animation figures named Nik, Ato and Kaz, represent Asia as the home of some of the world's most enchanting and exciting myths and stories, a place where fantasy and imagination thrive, and also the home of some of the most exciting developments in the world of animation and cartoon characters. The story communicates the joy of the tournament and will build interest and excitement right up to the opening game and beyond.

The three live high in the sky in a place called Atmozone, where they play their own version of football called Atmoball and where they study and learn how to create great atmosphere. The most popular and highly worshiped of all the creatures is Ato and he is the head of the academy and is son of the great Electro, King of all Atmozone.

One day his father gives him his greatest challenge: to go and create a special atmosphere required for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Ato takes only his best students with him.

Two mischievous little creatures, Nik and Kaz, are not chosen. Bitterly disappointed, they decide to sneak out of the Atmozone and follow Ato to the FIFA World Cup.

But the attraction in Korea, which has 5,000 years of culture and art, is not solely the World Cup fiesta. There, visitors must use the chance to see the world's amazing heritage and Korea's unique harmony of oriental and occidental cultures. (K. Basrie)