The political enemies of South and North Korea want to make Olympic history: host country South Korea wants to play host to the winter games in Pyeongchang (9th Olympic Games). till 25. February) together with the north of the country.
Representatives of both countries agreed on Wednesday at talks in the border town of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone.
This paved the way for the first joint sporting appearance of the two states on the Olympic stage in 70 years. In 1948, Korea, which was still united at that time, had played in the winter games in St. Gallen. Moritz and in the summer in London.
At the opening and closing ceremony, both teams also want to enter the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium together behind an association flag. So far, this has only been the case at the Summer Games 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens and, for the last time, at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin. All in all, the North wants to join the Olympic Games and the Paralympics afterwards (8. till 18. March) 550 persons.
The IOC welcomed the initiative. The “interesting proposals” were noted in a reaction. On the 20th. The decisive discussions will be held at the IOC in Lausanne on 1 January. IOC President Thomas Bach is expecting high-ranking members of the Korean government and sports officials as well as a delegation from the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee.
The IOC welcomed the willingness of the North and extended the deadline for the athletes. So far only the pair runners Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik have qualified from the north. However, it is likely that the IOC will provide opportunities for other North Korean athletes to compete.