By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
During the past few years, the biggest event in South Korean athletics, the National Sports Festival, had declined.
Citizens' indifference, a lack of new records and, more than anything else, an absence of athletes who can draw national attention, have led to the fall of the competition, which started on July 13, 1920.
But at the 88th contest, being held in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, some of the excitement has returned, as two of the world's top-level superstars have brought lost crowds back to the event.
Swimmer Park Tae-hwan and weightlifter Jang Mi-ran are tantalizing people, who are eager to watch them.
A crowd stormed into the Yeomju Swimming Pool Thursday morning, where World Championship winner Park competed in the men's 200-meter freestyle. The final race was set to start at 3:30 p.m., but 1,624 spectators had already filled the place much earlier, matching the previous day's uncommon sellout at the festival.