A note from the Editorial Board: As Suyang has now been officially awarded the hosting rights for the 2025 Summer Olympic Games, the city is in overdrive trying to finish preparations before the event’s expected start in the late summer. Our reporters bring you the latest in how the city is readying itself ahead of its moment on the global stage. We will continue to update this page as more news breaks.
Suyang Stadium Upgrades Reach Final Stage
The scheduled upgrades to Suyang Stadium have reached their final stage, a representative from the Golden Lion Sports Group has told the Times-Courier. The upgrades, primarily financed by Golden Lion’s parent, the Pharitaya Prosperity Fund, have received the backing of the Suyang government to help modernize the city’s largest sports arena ahead of the Olympic Games. The announcement by the holding group means the expansion and renovation of all stands in the stadium are complete, and only accessibility and amenity improvements remain. The expansion adds over 10,000 seats to the stadium, bringing it to 103,000 seats, on par with the largest stadiums in the IDU. The stadium will be closing to the public until the Games to finish the final upgrades following AFC Seorin’s final home game of the 2024-25 Commonwealth League, on May 16th.
– Kwon Seung-jun, City Correspondent
Eunji Wins the Battle: Funding Approved by Hwagang
Amid a tight budget battle in the National Assembly, Suyang Mayor Park Eun-ji (NB) has managed to sway enough deputies to gain more funding for infrastructure improvements in Suyang Province ahead of the Games. The amendment to the budget bill was being held up by coalition members from rural provinces who were concerned about being left out from the economic gains of the Olympics, however, due to pressure from Prime Minister Hwang, they ultimately relented.
Mayor Park thanked the Assembly for their decisiveness and outlined a plan for rapid infrastructure improvements in the coming months. Her plans enable maintenance work to allow for increased Metro capacity, along with station expansions and accessibility upgrades in areas close to Olympic venues. Park also plans on increasing bus service to allow for greater variety of commuting options during the Games, including the development of more bus-only lanes on major thoroughfares. Additionally, at the request of the Prime Minister, Park will work on expanding heat-relief infrastructure in the city, especially in blue-collar districts, to hopefully prevent catastrophes like the events of last summer.
– Seo Ji-yeon, Politics Correspondent
IDUOC Relents in Uniform Tiff
The IDUOC has agreed to relent on its uniform standards for beach volleyball after it was raised that the uniforms would violate an archaic Haesanite modesty law. The Public Standards and Decency Act of 1981 regulates dress and standards on government property and in public spaces, and despite its broad reaching powers, it is scarcely enforced except for instances of indecent exposure. The law has been maintained by various Haesanite governments which have sought to preserve decorum in public, but most Haesanites usually do not give it any concern. However, due to beach volleyball’s scheduled venue at a stadium constructed at the public Bay Street Beach, the event would be held on property subject to the Act, and the standard issue uniforms do not provide enough coverage to meet the Act’s specifications.
The Haesanite Olympic Committee has apologized for the oversight, and has pledged to design an appropriate and comfortable substitute, starting a bidding process including the Slokasian firm Peltotal Sport, the Eirian company Lēbelarga Aktiv, Laeral’s Dikon, and a joint bid by domestic sportswear brand Motive and the boutique Pierrette Studios. It is likely multiple offerings will be presented to the competing associations. Due to the controversy, the Public Standards and Decency Act has come under fire, and the Prime Minister has announced legislation to repeal it and replace it with legislation simply banning indecent exposure; however, it will likely not see a vote until after the Assembly’s summer recess, after the commencement of the Games.
– Fumiko Hirano, Senior Culture Reporter
Suseong Becomes 5th to Delay Fall Start
As university buildings across the Haeseomun district are slated to be used for supporting the Olympics, universities have chosen to postpone the start of their fall semesters to better allow for a transition back to ordinary university life. Today, prestigious liberal arts college Suseong College became the fifth university to do so, joining Albarine University, Seohae University, Namseon University, and the Suyang Institute of Technology. Following Suseong’s move, all eyes are on Suyang University, which despite its resources has so far declined to provide any support to the city for the Games. Mayor Park Eun-ji has thanked the universities for their cooperation with the government to help the Olympics run as smoothly as possible.
– Eloise Fleury, Education Correspondent
