On Sunday, July 20, Supporters Contest was held to make the Universiade a success at Okcheon Training Institute. The youths over 3,500 participated in this contest, showing their great interest in the games. Pastor Jeong Won-bo in charge of youths explained the purpose of the contest like this: "This contest is held to encourage the youths to take lead in enhancing the prestige of the country and in speeding the world mission through the voluntary activity of supporters at the Universiade."

ⓒ 2003 WATV

At the opening service, Mother said, "God has opened the age of the youth," and emphasized the importance of the youths' efforts for the success of the Universiade, and also told them to take the lead in displaying the glory of God when God fosters all the circumstances and gives strength to the youth for the work all the peoples will be marveled at. All the youths answered "Amen."

As the youths came out to prepare the contest, God sent down rain graciously as if to cool down the heat of the youth a little. In a refreshing wind and timely rain, the youths gave thanks to God, looking around the institute buildings.

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The Department of Youths organized the candidates into 4 groups on the basis of their records: Group A consisted of the youths who would participate in the supporters activity positively for 40 days from today to the end of the Universiade, and Group B, C, D were composed according to the period of voluntary activity.

The youths of Group B, C, D offered their records and received orientation for a card section. Among them, 2,000 members are selected by the records and they will perform the card section, "WE U."

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Meanwhile, the youths of Group A gathered on the ground and learned some cheering motions for about 30 minutes and entered the gym in numerical order to present their motion before judges. Through this test, 150 cheerleaders and 320 supporters leaders are selected. All the youths did their best not to miss the opportunity for God's blessing.

The judge points were expression, personal appearance, pliancy, moderation and rhythmical sense. And additional marks were given to those who had special abilities related with cheering motion and special voice which could attract audience's attention and outstanding passion of the youth and ambition. Besides the active cheering motion, the youths showed their talents unsparingly: tumbling, Tackwondo, Kungfu, dancing, traditional masked dance, aerobics. Their resounding voices showed their self-confidence: 'I can do it.'

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Being bathed in perspiration, the youths showed their wish to be selected, saying, "I'll surely let the world know Korea through the Universiade and reveal the glory of God to the whole world," "I'll never miss this opportunity to receive God's blessing."

The contest finished at 5 p.m. and Pastor Kim Yong-gap reviewed the contest, saying, "Cheering is the display of inward passion. Quite a few are on the professional level. But what moved me most was the youth's love for God and burning passion for humanity."

This Supporters Contest was the 3rd big event held for the success of the Universiade, after the Family Walking Festival Daegu on July 3 and the Foreign Language Volunteers' Speech Contest on July 17. The 2,470 youth who are selected finally will run to 29 stadiums after one month, and will contribute to the success of the Universiade, breathing and sweating together with the youths from 171 countries of the world.

ⓒ 2003 WATV