Gwangju 2015 reveals details for Universiade Ceremonies

Plans were announced at an official event at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul exactly a month before the games, which run from 3 to 14 July 2016 and will attract 20,000 participants and officials.

Gwangju 2015 President Kim Hwang-sik and Ceremonies' director Park Myung-sung revealed a line-up that will include South Korean celebrities such as the actor Joo Won, singer U-know Yunho of the duo TVXQ and popera singer Lim Hyung-joo.

The Gwangju Universiade Organising Committee (GUOC) promised to try its best to make the Universiade an event where global culture would dovetail with the unique features of South Korea's Jeolla Provinces.

Both ceremonies will strive to introduce the visiting athletes to South Korean contemporary culture underneath the slogan, 'Light Up Tomorrow'. Sub-themes include 'U are Shining' for the Opening Ceremony on 3 July at the Universiade's Main Stadium and 'Sharing the Light' for the Closing Ceremony on 14 July.

Also at the Opening Ceremony, the Korean alphabet of Hangul will be briefly introduced and the Universiade's key messages of 'Life' and 'Love' will be delivered to the participating athletes and officials with Korean traditional music.

Held in the same venue, the Closing Ceremony will embrace the student-athletes' passion, challenge and hope while illustrating these three tenets in a story which will bring athletes, officials and volunteers together for the final moment of the Universiade.

Myung-sung said the opening and closing ceremonies will embody Korea's beautiful tradition along with its modern popular culture.

Preparations for the ceremonies have been taking lace by the GUOC since May and a number of mock ceremonies will take place in the last 30 days ahead of the Universiade.

With the games now less than a month away, general preparations are gathering pace as the host city awaits an expected 20,000 participants - including athletes, executives, media and referees.

Information desks have been set up at Incheon International Airport, Gimpo International Airport, Muan International Airport and Gwangju Airport. The GUOC have also installed a fast-track immigration system and organised special transportation to various venues and accommodations.

The Athletes Village in Chungiu - which will sleep 600 athletes and officials from 40 different countries - will open on 26 June, although few guests are expected to arrive before 30 June.

"With only 30 days until the grand opening ceremony, we are making sure that all of our preparations are on point before the athletes arrive in Gwangju," said Gwangju 2015 secretary general Kim Yun-suk.

The GUOC have announced that a series of cultural activities and festivals will take place alongside the Games so that the young athletes from around the world can enjoy and share Korean traditions. Themed walking tours and bicycle city tours will also take place throughout the programme.

Two-hundred-and-seventy-two medal ceremonies will take place throughout the 28th edition of the Summer Universiade at 19 different venues. All in all there are 69 competition and training venues - of which four have been built especially for the games - for 21 different sports.