Olympic Games: IOC President Bach apparently plans visit to North Korea

IOC President Thomas Bach is apparently planning a visit to North Korea this year to discuss the country’s participation in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games with officials.

IOC President Thomas Bach is apparently planning a visit to North Korea this year to discuss the country’s participation in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games with officials. This is reported by AFP with reference to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Organizers of the Games in Pyeongchang (9. till 25. February) wish to have the athletes from North Korea take part to send a sign of peace from the tense area. The committee has not yet confirmed an upcoming visit to Bach, and another IOC representative could also set out on a trip, according to the report.

The last time the dictatorially ruled North Korea had allowed the ISU (International Figure Skating Federation) to miss the deadline for registrations of the sport qualified pair runners Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik, now a pair from Japan is entitled to the vacant place. However, the regulations still permit the granting of an additional start approval by the IOC.

Recently, the unauthorised missile tests carried out by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un have intensified the conflict with US President Donald Trump. Numerous athletes also expressed concern about the safety of Pyeongchang, which is only 80 kilometres from the northern border.