9th Youth Games of Japan Sea countries to open in Vladivostok in July

Vladivostok (Maritime Territory, the Russian Far East) will host the 9th Youth Games of the Sea of Japan countries in July, director of the Maritime regional school of the Olympic reserve Natalia Khvorostyanaya has told RIA Novosti. The Games program includes badminton, football and judo competitions between athletes from Japan, China, South Korea and the selected teams of the Maritime Region. The tradition of holding the Youth Games of the Sea of Japan countries originated in 1992 at an international friendly meeting between the youth teams of the Toyama prefecture (Japan) and the Maritime Territory. Since 1994 the competitions have been held regularly. They are attended by athletes from twin territories: the Toyama prefecture, the province of Liaoning (China), the province of Gongwon (Republic of Korea). Competitions are held in badminton and football. The third type of competition is the prerogative of the competition organizer.