South Korea's military aerobatic team flies over the main stadium at the Universiade opening ceremony in Gwangju on Friday.Photo: EPA
South Korea's military aerobatic team flies over the main stadium at the Universiade opening ceremony in Gwangju on Friday.Photo: EPA
The Canadian Ben Johnson (left) signals victory as he wins the men's 100 metres final to take the gold medal over American Carl Lewis (right) in Seoul's Olympic Games in 1988. Photo: AFP
The Canadian Ben Johnson (left) signals victory as he wins the men's 100 metres final to take the gold medal over American Carl Lewis (right) in Seoul's Olympic Games in 1988. Photo: AFP
The party gets underway at City Hall in Seoul after South Korea defeated Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. A record number of South Korean fans poured onto streets across the country to watch their team's victory. Photo: AFP
The party gets underway at City Hall in Seoul after South Korea defeated Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. A record number of South Korean fans poured onto streets across the country to watch their team's victory. Photo: AFP
Asia /  East Asia

A sporting host: how South Korea has continued to build on the legacy of the Seoul Olympics

A combination of national pride and desire for global approval spurred the state to hold a string of sports events, starting with the '88 Olympics

Andrew Salmon

Updated: 2:20am, 5 Jul, 2015

Why you can trust SCMP
South Korea's military aerobatic team flies over the main stadium at the Universiade opening ceremony in Gwangju on Friday.Photo: EPA
South Korea's military aerobatic team flies over the main stadium at the Universiade opening ceremony in Gwangju on Friday.Photo: EPA
The Canadian Ben Johnson (left) signals victory as he wins the men's 100 metres final to take the gold medal over American Carl Lewis (right) in Seoul's Olympic Games in 1988. Photo: AFP
The Canadian Ben Johnson (left) signals victory as he wins the men's 100 metres final to take the gold medal over American Carl Lewis (right) in Seoul's Olympic Games in 1988. Photo: AFP
The party gets underway at City Hall in Seoul after South Korea defeated Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. A record number of South Korean fans poured onto streets across the country to watch their team's victory. Photo: AFP
The party gets underway at City Hall in Seoul after South Korea defeated Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. A record number of South Korean fans poured onto streets across the country to watch their team's victory. Photo: AFP
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