The members of the Church of God supported a foreign team again in an international event, and spread the good image of Korea to the world. From May 16 to 20, Ulsan Association of the Church supported the Thai team in 'The 6th Korea International Archery Event which was held in Munsu International Archery Stadium in Ulsan city, Korea.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

This event was held to commemorate Korea's winning the championship at Olympic games. It was also the first international sports event held in Ulsan city. The city officials concerned positively asked the Ulsan Association to support the event. On May 16, about 40 members showed their latent energy to the full as the "supporters who upgrade the quality of the event (as Jacques Rogge the President of IOC said in Daegu Summer Universiade 2003)."

The Opening Ceremony was planned to begin at 2 p.m., but the members sat down from 1p.m. and waited in blue uniforms and white hats with various placards and pickets reading cheering slogans. They supported the Thai team ardently. "THAILAND! VICTORY!," "WE THAILAND!" Their cheering resounded throughout the stadium.

Their support was very different from that of other supporters who only watched the Opening Ceremony under the shade. In the Opening Ceremony there were a lot of cultural performances such as a drum performance, a drum and fife band parade, a fan dance and so on, but the most outstanding performance was the fervent support of the members from the Church of God for Thai team. Their support was energetic enough to draw the attention of the citizens and the journalists. Most journalists were attracted to them, and a foreign journalist kept staying there, taking photos of them and shouting, "Wonderful!" The announcer who presided over the Opening Ceremony praised the supporters, saying, "They look so good, supporting with one mind. The athletes from other countries seem to envy the Thai team."

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The Thai athletes were moved by their heartfelt support which started even one hour before the ceremony. Looking at the supporters encouraging them wholeheartedly, the Thai athletes were very delighted and went up to the supporters' seats to thank them and cheered together. The leader Poh Tiong Wee couldn't conceal his joy, saying, "We've never been welcomed like this. I think we will get a good result for their support." After the ceremony, the athletes and the supporters felt sorry to say good-bye, and wouldn't let go of each other's hands.

An official concerned, who saw the members supporting very fervently with smile as if it had been their own work for 5 hours from 1p.m. to 6p.m., under the hot sun, praised them, saying, "I thank them very much for supporting so actively."

The members displayed their know-how of cheering and teamwork which they strengthened through Daegu Summer Universiade 2003 and succeeded to play the role of a nongovernmental diplomatic mission. They said, "We hope that the light of the glory of God will shine in Thailand through our little labor."

The supporters cleaned the stadium after the event as they always did and went back home. This reporter hope that the people of the world including Thailand will see the light of the glory of God and diligently fly to the country at the ends of the earth in the east this year, 2005, too.