We are lucky, honoured and proud to have successfully hosted the seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup
|Ki-jeong Lee PhD, President of Hanyang University in Seoul. The University Campus hosted the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup |
Image: Hanyang University
For a man at the helm of one of the top 2% universities in the world, with 30,000 students in his care, in one of the global top ten cities, you would imagine Ki-jeong Lee PhD, President of Hanyang University in Seoul, had probably seen it all.
Until mid-September this year, however, he had not experienced the phenomenon that is the Homeless World Cup.
“Many of us, including myself, were not altogether sure what to expect,” he smiles, on the eve of Finals Day in Seoul whilst talking to Isobel Irvine and Matthew Williams from the Homeless World Cup Foundation. “We were also asking, ‘what is this Homeless World Cup?’
“It has been much bigger than we expected – and we are so happy to see its impact is so great.”
Hanyang University’s city campus, usually home to 25,000 students, was founded in 1939 as Korea’s first university to offer engineering and architecture programmes and is still referred to as the ‘engine of Korea.’ It’s an engine that revved up accordingly to fire the spirits of 450 participants who graced its pitches and thronged its halls during this year’s 19th edition of the Homeless World Cup.
“Mr Mel Young [co-founder and President of the Homeless World Cup Foundation] is an Ashoka Fellow – Hanyang University is the only Ashoka U Changemaker Campus in Asia – and through this connection, we became closely involved with the Homeless World Cup Foundation,” he explains. “The University is committed to raising awareness of such global social issues and fulfiled its social responsibility by hosting this event.”
|Ki-jeong Lee PhD presenting the Indian team with the Hanyang University Cup at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup |
After the university was selected, in January, as this year's host site the news was shared via the school newspaper and alumni who were invited to participate as volunteers. Then, from July onwards, promotion of the event began in earnest through the university’s extracurricular platform and website.
President Lee gives special mention to Si-Hwan Kim (Electrical Engineering major, Class of 2021) who founded ’Kkumkkum’, one of the leader groups of ‘Hope Hanyang’ which spearheads volunteer activities on campus, who played a significant role by helping create a volunteer guidebook.
The spirit of the tournament is always catching, and President Lee was instantly swept up in the event – even before the first ball was kicked.
“The night before the tournament a typhoon passed through, leaving behind heavy rain and I was so afraid the opening ceremony would be delayed or cancelled,” he recalls, “but we have to prepare for uncertainty, those things we can’t control, very much like the players have had to during their lives.”
|L-R Isobel Irvine, Ki-jeong Lee PhD, Matthew Williams and Eunjeong Kim (Hanyang University)
Image: Hanyang University
A short ‘puddle watch’ delay on day one led seamlessly into a joyous opening parade and ceremony, however, which heralded a glorious week of weather and a sea of happy faces.
“The sight of athletes from various countries marching in traditional attire during the opening parade was truly moving,” he says. “Witnessing the moment when diverse cultures came together as one, I felt a sense of solidarity that transcends race and borders.
“The event reaffirmed for me that it holds significance beyond just a competition. I believe that, going forward, Hanyang University must take the lead in raising awareness about a wider range of social issues and strive to fulfil its social responsibilities.”
On a personal level, President Lee adds:
“The players never lose their smiles! It doesn’t matter whether they win the games or not, it’s the players getting together that is important, and the players themselves who are important – every player is a VIP!
“I’ve been so happy to see the positive energy of all the players and teams. Even though they have tough circumstances, I believe this will be a fresh start for them, for their future – this is the goal of Homeless World Cup.”
|Ki-jeong Lee PhD with Matthew Williams and Isobel Irvine from the Homeless World Cup Foundation|
Image: Hanyang University
Hanyang University supports an orphanage near the city campus and during the tournament, President Lee met one of the Korean players who had grown up in the facility.
“He told me he always thought he was alone, that no one cared for him, but through these games he realised that there are so many people wanting to help him, give him a new starting point in life. Through this game of football, he could stand tall again.”
Though not a footballer - “I was a baseball player in middle school so I don’t have much experience playing football myself,” - President Lee is an enthusiastic supporter.
“My favourite player is Cha Bum-kun, a Korean footballer who played in the German Bundesliga a long time ago,” he recalls. “I remember waking up early in the morning and feeling so happy when I heard that he had scored a goal, and then going to school with a joyful heart!”
A sport featuring a much smaller white ball is his main sporting hobby, these days however – one which turned out to benefit the tournament in a roundabout way, as he continues:
“One of the directors of our Global Innovation Centre here at the university came to me this week and said ‘we need more money to support these players’. So that day I was playing golf with friends and told them about the tournament happening here and that I needed their help.
“One of my friends very generously immediately donated US$10,000! It’s symbolic of the importance of people joining us in spirit in these games.”
More than an event and much more than a game, there’s no doubt the magic of Homeless World Cup has cast its spell over the Hanyang University President.
“Seeing many participants gain hope and be offered new opportunities for a fresh start through this event was deeply moving – and witnessing our university students directly contributing to creating such positive change, allowed me to once again appreciate the power of education.
“We are lucky, honoured and proud to have successfully hosted this event.”
Words: Isobel Irvine