2002 Asian Games

The 2002 Asian Games, officially known as the XIV Asian Games and also known as Busan 2002 (부산2002), were an international multi-sport event held in Busan, South Korea from 29 September to 14 October 2002. Due to schedule impediments the football tournament started two days before the opening ceremony. Busan is the second city in South Korea, after Seoul in 1986, to host the Games. A total of 419 events in 38 sports were contested by 7,711 athletes from 44 countries. The Games were also co-hosted by its four neighbouring cities: Ulsan, Changwon, Masan and Yangsan. It was opened by President of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung, at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. The final medal tally was led by China, followed by host South Korea and Japan. China set a new record and became the first nation in the history of Asian Games to cross the 300 medal-mark in one edition. South Korea set a new record with 95 gold medals. 22 world records and 43 Asian records were broken during the Games. In addition, Japanese Swimming Kosuke Kitajima was announced as the most valuable player (MVP) of the Games.