'평화의 물결 속으로'... 광주세계수영선수권 오늘 개회<br /><br />The world's biggest biennial swimming competition has officially kicked off with a splash in South Korea's southwestern city of Gwangju.<br />The opening ceremony will begin in less than an hour from now,... and we have our Kan Hyeong-woo standing by at the scene<br />Hyeong-woo, what's the atmosphere there like?<br />Well, Da-eun. It's always an exciting time when Korea is the host of a big international sporting event. Right now, I'm standing in front of Gwangju Women's University Universiade Gymnasium,... where the opening ceremony will take place in about an hour. <br />Now, this is the first time South Korea is hosting the world's biggest international swimming competition.<br />This year's event in Gwangju has already set records... for the most number of participating athletes and countries.<br />Under the slogan 'Dive into Peace',... the world's biggest biennial aquatic competition will run through July 28.<br />Some twenty-six hundred athletes from almost two-hundred countries are competing in this year's FINA World Championships.<br />FINA is the French abbreviation of the International Swimming Federation.<br />So, over the course of seventeen days,... aquatic athletes are going to compete for a total of seventy-six gold medals in swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming and water polo at five different venues - four in Gwangju and one in Yeosu.<br />Just in case artistic swimming sounds unfamiliar,... it used to be called synchronized swimming or under-water ballet as some might describe.<br />The FINA World Championships is widely recognized as one of the world's top-five mega-sporting events along with the Summer and Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships.<br />By hosting the world aquatic championships,... South Korea has become the fourth country to have hosted all five major sporting competitions after Germany, Italy and Japan.<br />Thousands of people have gathered here in Gwangju to show their support for the swimming championship. Let's take a listen.<br />"We should actively support the athletes coming from all over the world so that they can perform at their best. For me personally, I sincerely congratulate the city of Gwangju for hosting the FINA World Championships and I'm sending my support along with the entire nation of Korea."<br />"Gwangju is hosting such a big event, and as a Gwangju resident, I hope Korean athletes do well since the competition is taking place in their home country. Let's go, Team Korea "<br />The opening ceremony, under the theme 'Fountain of Light',... will see the participating countries' flags being brought in... as the athletes and referees recite the oath of fair play.<br />That's all from me for now,... but we will bring you some more updates... and highlights from the opening ceremony.<br />
