Universiade interpreter hopes to promote sports in Pakistan

Pakistani volunteer interpreter Ali Asif speaks during an interview at the 2015 Gwangju Universiade in the southwestern host city, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee

By Yoon Sung-won

GWANGJU ― The Universiade is about promoting the value of respect and shared growth as much as it is about international sport.

Ali Asif, 34, is a Pakistani national who is in the host city of the 2015 Gwangju Universiade to work as an interpreter. He said he hopes to learn the virtue of peace and co-prosperity here and promote sports when he returns to his homeland.

“By participating in the Universiade, I have met athletes from all around the world, communicated with them and learned from them,” Asif said in an interview at the host city, Wednesday.

“Based on the knowledge and experience I have gained at the Universiade, I want to contribute to the advancement of the sports management industry in Pakistan. I will return to my homeland after I complete my thesis at the end of this year and devote myself to the sports and education fields.”

Asif came to Korea in September to study for a master’s degree in global sports management through a program called “Dream Together Master” at Seoul National University.

The program is for sports administration aspirants in developing countries and is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and Korea Foundation for the Next Generation Sports Talent.

Asif volunteered to work as an interpreter at the sporting event along with 20 fellow students who are studying the master’s course. He also studied Korean language to communicate with and understand Koreans better.

“Whereas the Universiade promotes education and culture, the Dream Together Master program aims at growth from academic exchanges and learning,” he said.

“I have been able to utilize theories such as international sports management and sports communication that I had learned from the program at the Universiade here.”

Asif stressed that athletes can spread courage and hope worldwide through the Universiade.

“I think that winning and losing, and the color of a medal are not important here at the Universiade,” he said.

“In Pakistan, people are suffering from longstanding disputes. I hope athletes will spread what they have learned at the sporting event back in their homelands and show our enthusiasm, courage and hope for peace to the world.”