Park Returns To Competition At Aquatic Centre That Bears His Name

Park Tae-Hwan will be returning to competition at the National Sports Festival which is being held in Incheon, South Korea from October 18th-24th.

On Monday the facility that will host the aquatic events held it’s opening ceremony revealing that will be named the Park Tae-Hwan Aquatic Centre honouring the country’s swimming superstar.

The aquatic centre is a world class facility that will seat 3000 spectators. Park, who joined Incheon’s mayor Song Young-gil at the opening ceremonies, told those in attendance that the facility was on par with the facilities used at the Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

The city of Incheon, which has a population of approximately 2.9 million will be hosting the National Sports Festival that will see approximately 22,000 athletes competing in 44 official sports and two demonstration sports. The aquatic facility will be used for the first time during this event.

Incheon will be hosting the 2014 Asian Games and will be using this event as a primer for the higher profile games next summer, “We’re hosting the National Sports Festival for the first time in 14 years, at a time when we’re developing into a global hub,” Song told Yonhap News Agency “I think it’s more significant that this is taking place with the Asian Games one year away. It will give us a good opportunity to test our infrastructure and operating systems.”

As reported by Alex Pussieldi Park has been sponsored by the city of Incheon and in return will represent them at the festival where the city’s highest finish has been third.

The competition will Park’s first since the London Olympics, where he won two silver medals. He will be entered in five events at the festival, what the events will be has not been revealed.