An annual sports festival for the Thai and Filipino communities in Gimpo began on June 5 with the opening festival day at Gimpo YIUTSARI. YIUTSARI, which translates to “living with the neighbours”, is the Jesuit Centre for Migrant Workers.
The two communities have enjoyed the Gimpo Migrant Workers’ Sports Festival every year since the first event in 2006. This year, after the opening festival day, the Thai community will play soccer for eight weeks while the Filipinos will play basketball for 12 weeks.
The opening ceremony was preceded by an opening mass for the 250 Filipinos participating in the sports festival. It was concelebrated by Fr Alvin Parantar MSP, the chief priest of Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipino Migrants, and Fr Kim Chong-dae SJ of YIUTSARI.
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| Fr Alvin Parantar MSP and Fr Kim Chong-dae SJ concelebrating the opening mass with Gimpo Filipino Migrants’ Community. |
After the mass, all adjourned to the grounds to join 300 Thais for the opening ceremony, at which Mr You Yung-rok, the mayor of Gimpo, gave the migrants a warm greeting. Also in attendance were Ms Poonsup, Minister Councilor of the Thai Embassy in Korea; other representatives of the Embassy; the many Korean volunteers who helped with the preparations; and some Jesuit priests and brothers.
The day’s festivities included performances by the migrants. Some formed bands and others put on traditional costumes and performed dances.
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| Thai band performing |
The purpose of the sports festival is to strengthen solidarity between Koreans and migrants.
“Actually we worry about the isolation of the migrants from Koreans,” said Br Min John Kim SJ who is working with migrant workers during his regency. “Every day the migrants only work and then rest in their dormitory. On weekends they go to their own shops to meet their countrymen.”
“There are few chances for migrants to meet Koreans. The sports festival helps increase interaction between migrants and Koreans. It provides a good first step for friendship and solidarity between Korean people and migrants.
The sports festival is also expected to give the migrants a good outlet for recreation.
“For the migrants, there are only limited chances for cultural activities, and this gives rise to social issues,” said Brother Min.
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| Korean volunteers with Gimpo YIUTSARI staff |
The Korean Jesuits hope this sports festival will be a seed for solidarity between Korean society and its migrant community.
“This sense of solidarity is the vision of YIUTSARI,” said Brother Min.