S. Korea takes first gold at Delphic Games in poetry recital

(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, the host of the
ongoing International Delphic Games, grabbed the competition's first gold with
the country's Kim Il-young winning in poetry recitation, organizers of the global
cultural competition said Saturday.

The third Delphic Games, held through Sept. 15 on the South Korean island of
Jeju, have drawn 395 people from 35 countries, all hoping to showcase their
talents and cultural heritage. They will perform in 18 competitions in six large
categories: music and acoustic arts; performing arts; crafts, design and visual
arts; linguistic arts; communication and social arts; and architecture and
ecological arts.
Kim, who took part in the poetry recitation games, an individual competition
within the lingual arts category, recited a self-written poem about his mother,
who had been a diver in Jeju.
Jury members, including French poet Claude Mouchard, said Kim's performance was
"honest" and "deeply moving."
"Reading a poem had been a new challenge for me," Kim said after winning his
gold. "I dedicate the honor to my mother."
The silver went to Mbali Vilakazi from South Africa, while China's Jin Qinglong
took the bronze.
The Delphic Lyre Award, given to the competitor who best blends different
cultures in the performance, went to Gonchig Sukhzorig of Mongolia. The Delphic
Laurel Award, given to competitors who blend characteristics of their local
culture with innovative techniques, went to Tade Ipadeoia from Nigeria.
Mongolia's state Folk Song and Dance Ensemble won the gold at the a cappella
games, with the country taking three gold medals in the ongoing Delphics.
Games featuring traditional double-reed woodwind instruments and a shadow play
competition were to open Saturday, along with the sculpture, graphic
storytelling, documentary production, book art, stone fence-making and outdoor
space design games that have been running since Thursday.
Under the theme "Tuning into Nature," this year's Delphic Games opened on Jeju
Island on Wednesday with performers from 54 countries gathering for the
competitions, as well as special performances and lectures.
The Delphic Games originated in the ancient Greek culture festivals that were
held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. With representatives
from 18 nations founding the International Delphic Council in 1994, the first
round of the culture Olympics was held in Russia and the second in Malaysia in
2005. The event in South Korea is the largest so far.
Winners will receive the gold, silver or bronze Delphic Medal Award, as well as
the Delphic Laurel Award, the Delphic Peace Award and the Delphic Lyre Award,
which can be also awarded to the medalists.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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