The SSIREUM OPEN FESTIVAL 2024, held in South Korea, in the city of Yeongam-gun, Jeollanamnam-do, has just ended. It was a sporting and cultural event organized by the Korea Ssireum Association with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Ten countries were invited.
Four Italian athletes from the Traditional Wrestling Italian Federation participated in the various training sessions and the final competition, tenaciously winning some matches, but without reaching the podium: Vitalie Ursu (also as a coach) and Mihai Ciocan, from the “Dojo Equipe Bologna”, Emanuele Papa (captain) and Federico Zardo. During the event, the president of the Korea Ssireum Association, Hwang Kyung Soo, gave the Italian Team a special gift as a sign of friendship and gratitude.
For the Ssireum Italian Team this is the third experience at this extraordinary event held every year. Affiliated to the sports promotion body A.S.I, the Traditional Wrestling Italian Federation is celebrating its tenth year of activity at a national and international level this month.
Its founder and president, Vittorio Giorgi, has long highlighted the importance of this wrestling, which in 2018 was included by UNESCO in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the Ssireum the wrestlers fight in a circular arena covered with sand and, grabbing each other by the belt, with the use of the strength of their arms, legs and back, try to throw their opponent to the ground. The competitions are always preceded by particular rituals.
