U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon kicked off a world rowing championship at his hometown in central South Korea Saturday, giving pep talks to nearly 2,000 competitors from around the world.

"Sports have the power to bring out peace and development," Ban said in a brief speech at the opening ceremony of the 2013 World Rowing Championship in Chungju, a provincial city 100 kilometers south of Seoul.

The eight-day championship drew 1,940 athletes from 75 countries, organizers said.

Ban's six-day visit to South Korea which began on Tuesday is part of his home leave. His schedules in South Korea also included a meeting with President Park Geun-hye on Friday. (Yonhap news)