Korea tops Abilympics medal tally

Korea finished top in an international skills contest for disabled persons in Seoul, its organizing committee said Friday.

It clinched 17 gold, 17 silver and seven bronze medals at the International Abilympics, which wrapped up its six-day contest with a closing ceremony Friday. It was the fifth consecutive time the country topped the medal tally.

Taiwan took second place with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals while China came in third.

The contest, held every four years, brought together 447 participants from 57 countries.

Korean winners in vocational skills categories take home a maximum of 50 million won ($42,553) in prize money, while medalists in basic courses and leisure and living contests are given 4 million won, the Korean organizing committee said.

“I sincerely congratulate all the participants for showing off their excellent vocational skills. I hope this gathering will be a chance to boost courage and the dreams of people with disabilities,” Korean Labor Minister Lee Cha-pil told the closing ceremony.

International symposiums and forums on employment systems took place on the sidelines of the gathering. Several cultural programs, including performances of Korean classical music and traditional dance, drew a total of 3,500 visitors.

Helsinki is seeking to host the next Abilympics in 2015, although it is yet to win parliamentary endorsement.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)