nkorea doubts over souths olympic invite
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

N.Korea doubts over South's Olympic invite

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleN.Korea doubts over South's Olympic invite

Seoul has suggested holding some Olympic events
Seoul - AFP

A top North Korean sports official voiced doubts over a proposal by South Korean President Moon Jae-In to form a unified Olympic team, citing political tensions and a lack of time, a report said.

The comment by Chang Ung, the North's delegate to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) came after Moon suggested that two Koreas pool their athletes to form a joint team for the 2018 Winter Games, which the South is hosting.

The South and the nuclear-armed North are separated by one of the world's most heavily-armed borders and remain technically at war after the Korean War ended with armistice in 1953 instead of a peace treaty, and Pyongyang boycotted the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Organisers of Pyeongchang 2018 have urged it to take part to make them a "peace Olympics".

But unlike the summer version, the winter games have minimum qualifications because of the risks inherent in snow and ice sports, and so far no North Korean athletes have met the required standards.

That raises the prospect that none will attend, even if political issues over the North's nuclear and missile ambitions do not intrude.

A unified group could allow North Koreans to take part in team events such as ice hockey.

But with only seven months to go before the Games open in the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang, Chang said there was not enough time to reach an agreement. 

"From a point of an Olympics expert, it is already too late," Chang told South Korean cable news outlet Channel A at the opening of the World Taekwondo Championships in the South. 

A former national basketball captain and the North's sole IOC member, Chang stressed that so-called sports diplomacy takes months of painstaking preparations and political coordination.

The two Koreas held more than 20 meetings over six months before forming a unified team for the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Japan, he added.

"The political situation should be resolved first. Politics lies above sports," Chang told Channel A late Sunday, adding that the ping-pong diplomacy that helped improve China-US ties in the 1970s came after years of political negotiations.

"The achievement was made using ping pong as a catalyst, because a political foundation was already laid out," he said, adding: "The world says ping pong made everything happen, but it's not true."

The South's new President Moon, who took helm in May, advocates engagement with the North to bring it to negotiating table and Seoul's sports minister Do Jong-Hwan has also suggested holding some Olympic events at a ski resort in the North. 

But Chang expressed scepticism, saying: "It's easier said than done." 

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

nkorea doubts over souths olympic invite nkorea doubts over souths olympic invite

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 09:23 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

1105 food baskets distributed in Yemen

GMT 09:35 2018 Monday ,08 January

Trump marijuana policy reversal stokes fears

GMT 11:09 2017 Saturday ,16 December

Russia poses risk to undersea cables: UK defense chief

GMT 09:56 2017 Thursday ,02 November

Digital subscriber gains rev up NY Times profit

GMT 01:38 2016 Thursday ,29 December

Iraqi President meets Kuwaiti Foreign Minister

GMT 17:37 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Le Pen refuses to wear veil, fails to meet with Mufti

GMT 01:48 2016 Monday ,13 June

Pioneering solar pilots 'make sci-fi a reality'

GMT 18:45 2016 Wednesday ,21 December

Several Qaeda militants killed in drone strike

GMT 07:28 2018 Thursday ,11 January

As US freezes aid, Pakistan dismisses economic fears

GMT 11:14 2017 Sunday ,12 March

My video is flagrant but smashed the charts

GMT 09:21 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

unveils London boutique and appoints MG Empower

GMT 07:48 2018 Thursday ,04 January

L’Oréal Professionnel unveils Alexa

GMT 07:41 2017 Saturday ,19 August

Brief tourism impact from Spain attacks

GMT 00:02 2017 Friday ,22 December

UK-Iranian prisoner could be released

GMT 21:53 2016 Tuesday ,14 June

Israeli tech second only to Silicon Valley

GMT 00:25 2017 Friday ,27 October

Ex-HSBC executive can face US extradition: UK court

GMT 07:44 2017 Wednesday ,20 September

Iran asks award-winning film-maker to report to prosecutor

GMT 10:34 2017 Saturday ,11 November

Politics free? Even country music awards poke Trump

GMT 07:59 2017 Sunday ,17 December

Embassy in London marks Accession, National Days
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle