S. Korea to hold declaration ceremony for 2029 Invictus Games

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will hold an official ceremony this week to declare the hosting of an international sporting event for injured service members in 2029, the veterans ministry said Friday.

South Korea will host the 2029 Invictus Games, an international sports competition for wounded and sick service members, in the central city of Daejeon, marking the first Asian country to host the games.

A ceremony declaring and celebrating South Korea's hosting will take place at an arboretum in Daejeon, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul, on Saturday, according to the ministry.

Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul, Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong, Yoo Eul-sang, president of the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization, and officials from Britain's Invictus Games Foundation will attend the event.

"It will be meaningful for South Korea to host the Invictus Games that supports rehabilitation and recovery of injured service members, for the first time in Asia, given the country's history of transforming the scars of war into impetus for development," Kwon said.

The event will feature booths where visitors can experience key Invictus Games sports, such as indoor rowing, cycling and powerlifting, by using workout equipment.

As part of the celebration, a swarm of drones will decorate the night skies, along with a performance by South Korean band N.Flying, the ministry said.