A different opening for the Asian Para Games

“It is an occasion that highlights the passion of those who make the impossible possible. There will be no opening and closing ceremony of celebrities.”

Following the Incheon Asian Games, the Incheon Para Games will start in the Incheon Munhak Sports Complex on Oct. 18. The Asian Paralympic Committee held a presentation for the production of an opening and closing ceremony at the Korea Press Center on Monday.

Koleen Park, 47, the chief director of the opening and closing ceremony, explained the intention of the opening ceremony performance, “I will focus on human beings’ pure passion and creativity to celebrate the life and challenges of them and those who helped them.”

The opening ceremony will consist of four parts and some 1,400 disabled and non-disabled performers will showcase various performances.

The Committee said, “Except for Singer Kim Tae-woo, no stage will be focused on celebrities in the opening ceremony.” Chief producing director Yoo Joon-gyu said, “We invited Kim Tae-woo after we first thought about the message of the song “A Candle Light." The Korean Wave is a good content but does not fit for the message of the Asian Para Games.”

Both the opening and closing ceremony, which will cost six billion won (5.62 million U.S. dollars) out of the event’s total budget of 79.9 billion won (74.78 million dollars), will be jointly produced by Yoo Joon-gyu, costume director Yoo Mi-jin, and choreographer Cha Jin-yeop under Park’s leadership. Some 6,000 athletes from 42 countries will participate in the 2014 Incheon Para Games.