On Saturday, January 20, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that North Korea would be attending the Winter Olympics due to occur at the beginning of next month. President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, said that North Korea will be sending 22 athletes to compete in three different sports at the Winter Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland. On top of that, the athletes from both North and South Korea will march together under one flag at the opening ceremony for the games on February 9. Sources say that of the 22 athletes from North Korea, 15 are women, and 7 are men. Accompanying the athletes will be 24 coaches and 21 media representatives there to capture the best and worst moments. The events they are set to compete in are: ice hockey, ice skating, and skiing. Bach of the IOC emphasized that bringing the two Koreas was not easy, but he was proud of what had been achieved. In the end, proposals from both North and South Korea had to be approved by the IOC and Pyeongchang Committee in order to make this possible.
This is a momentous event in history. The fact that the team will enter the Olympic Stadium under the Korean Unification Flag is a very emotional act for Koreans and the rest of the world. It was also confirmed that for the first time in Olympic history, the two nations will enter the women's ice hockey team under the name Korea and represented by the unification flag. This makes me feel proud of the two nations. They have overcome their differences and joined together for the good of their people. I know that the Koreas will shine at the Olympics because of their newfound team that hopefully stays together.
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/20/asia/north-korea-south-korea-olympic-talks-intl/index.html
I think that it's a great feat in history for North and South Korea to be this united and peaceful. Especially considering their major differences and infamous feuds in the past.
ReplyDeleteOlivia Wall - I agree that it will be a very emotional event to see and that many people worldwide will feel it. It is cool that the two countries, despite their past, are able to cooperate.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most monumental moments in Korean history because the two nations have not cooperated on anything since the signing of the treaty that made the 38th parallel (I'm pretty sure). I believe this might be one step out of many to help settle both nation's differences and lead to cooperation.
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