IOC President Thomas Bach today announced that a delegation from the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will participate at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
The Kwandong Hockey Centre
President Bach said: “The Olympic Games are always about building bridges. They never erect walls. The Olympic spirit is about respect, dialogue and understanding. The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula.”
Under the “Olympic Korean Peninsula Declaration”, (below) the IOC will grant accreditations to the NOC of the DPRK for 22 athletes in three sports and five disciplines.
The Gangneung Hockey Centre
OLYMPIC KOREAN PENINSULA DECLARATION
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Olympic Korean Peninsula Declaration “Olympic Korean Peninsula Declaration” on the participation at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 of the delegation from the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and joint activities with the delegation of the NOC of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Following the invitation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), four-party talks took place today at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The talks between the following parties were held in the Olympic spirit of respect and friendship: • A delegation from the NOC of the Republic of Korea (ROK) led by NOC President LEE Kee-heung and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, DO Jong-hwan.
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• A delegation from the NOC of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) led by NOC President and Minister of Sport, KIM Il-guk.
• A delegation from the NOC of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) led by NOC President and Minister of Sport, KIM Il-guk.
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• A delegation from the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) led by President LEE Hee-beom.
• A delegation from the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) led by President LEE Hee-beom.
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• The IOC delegation led by President Thomas BACH included IOC Executive Board Members Gunilla LINDBERG, Chair of the Coordination Commission PyeongChang 2018, and Gian-Franco KASPER, President of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF). The IOC Members from the respective countries, CHANG Ung and RYU Seung-min, were also present.
• The IOC delegation led by President Thomas BACH included IOC Executive Board Members Gunilla LINDBERG, Chair of the Coordination Commission PyeongChang 2018, and Gian-Franco KASPER, President of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF). The IOC Members from the respective countries, CHANG Ung and RYU Seung-min, were also present.
–• The meeting was chaired by the IOC President, Thomas Bach.
The IOC has taken exceptional decisions to ensure the participation of athletes from the NOC of the DPRK at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018:
• The IOC will grant accreditations to the NOC of the DPRK for 22 athletes, 24 officials and 21 media representatives.
The IOC has taken exceptional decisions to ensure the participation of athletes from the NOC of the DPRK at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018:
• The IOC will grant accreditations to the NOC of the DPRK for 22 athletes, 24 officials and 21 media representatives.
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• The IOC approves the request of the NOCs of ROK and DPRK to have their delegations marching together as one under the name “Korea” at the Opening Ceremony. The delegation will be led into the Olympic Stadium by the Korean Unification Flag, carried by two athletes, one from each NOC. There will be one female and one male athlete flagbearer. The delegation will wear a special uniform with the Korean Unification Flag (see Annex B). The acronym for the team will be “COR”.
• The IOC approves the request of the NOCs of ROK and DPRK to have their delegations marching together as one under the name “Korea” at the Opening Ceremony. The delegation will be led into the Olympic Stadium by the Korean Unification Flag, carried by two athletes, one from each NOC. There will be one female and one male athlete flagbearer. The delegation will wear a special uniform with the Korean Unification Flag (see Annex B). The acronym for the team will be “COR”.
The Gangneung Ice Arena
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• Unified Women’s Ice Hockey Team: The IOC has decided to allow the two National Olympic Committees, for the first time in their Olympic history, to form a unified team in a sport. This unified women’s ice hockey team is created by adding 12 players and one official from the NOC of the DPRK to the existing ROK Olympic squad of 23 players. With respect to fair play and the other competing teams, only 22 players will be entitled to play in each game, as is the rule for all participating teams. The head coach, responsible for the selection of the players, will be the ROK coach. The head coach will at each match select at least three players from the NOC of the DPRK in the team. The unified women’s ice hockey team will be represented by the Korean Unification Flag and will compete as Korea, with the anthem being the song “Arirang”. The acronym for the team will be “COR”. In all other sports, the athletes will compete for their respective NOC in their respective uniforms.
Kwandong Hockey Centre
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• Figure Skating: The IOC allocated an additional quota place, after the registration deadline had expired, to the qualified figure skating pair (RYOM Tae-ok and KIM Jusik) from the NOC of the DPRK.
• Figure Skating: The IOC allocated an additional quota place, after the registration deadline had expired, to the qualified figure skating pair (RYOM Tae-ok and KIM Jusik) from the NOC of the DPRK.
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• Short Track Speed Skating: The IOC allocated two additional quota places to the NOC of the DPRK in short track speed skating to allow two male athletes (JONG Kwangbom – 1500m and CHOE Un-song – 500m) to compete at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
• Short Track Speed Skating: The IOC allocated two additional quota places to the NOC of the DPRK in short track speed skating to allow two male athletes (JONG Kwangbom – 1500m and CHOE Un-song – 500m) to compete at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
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• Cross-Country Skiing: The IOC allocated three additional quota places to the NOC of the DPRK to allow two male athletes (HAN Chun-gyong – 15km freestyle and PAK Ilchol – 15km freestyle) and one female athlete (RI Yong-gum – 10km freestyle) to compete in PyeongChang.
• Cross-Country Skiing: The IOC allocated three additional quota places to the NOC of the DPRK to allow two male athletes (HAN Chun-gyong – 15km freestyle and PAK Ilchol – 15km freestyle) and one female athlete (RI Yong-gum – 10km freestyle) to compete in PyeongChang.
A Cross-Country Skiing Track At The Alpensia Venue
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• Alpine Skiing: The IOC allocated three additional quota places to the NOC of DPRK to allow two male athletes (CHOE Myong-gwang and KANG Song-il) and one female athlete (KIM Ryon-hyang) to compete in PyeongChang. All three athletes will compete in both the Giant Slalom and Slalom events.
• Alpine Skiing: The IOC allocated three additional quota places to the NOC of DPRK to allow two male athletes (CHOE Myong-gwang and KANG Song-il) and one female athlete (KIM Ryon-hyang) to compete in PyeongChang. All three athletes will compete in both the Giant Slalom and Slalom events.
The Women’s & Men’s Slalom Alpine Skiing
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• Any necessary technical equipment will be provided to the athletes by the IOC in cooperation with the International Federations, and will be made available on site.
• Any necessary technical equipment will be provided to the athletes by the IOC in cooperation with the International Federations, and will be made available on site.
The Gangneung Hockey Centre
The athletes and the delegation of the DPRK will arrive in the Olympic Village no later than 1 February 2018. All participating athletes will enter the Games-time anti-doping testing programme. The accredited media will be provided with adequate working space at the IBC and MPC. All the participants would like to thank the Olympic Winter Sports Federations for their continuing cooperation to achieve these goals, in particular, the International Ski Federation (FIS), the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Skating Union (ISU).
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The delegations welcomed the cultural, sporting and other initiatives proposed by the governments of the DPRK and the ROK which will take place alongside, but not as part of, the Olympic Games. The delegations welcomed the invitation of the NOC of the DPRK to the IOC President to visit the DPRK. The IOC would like to express its most sincere thanks to the governments of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for paving the way for these decisions in the Olympic spirit.
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The delegations welcomed the cultural, sporting and other initiatives proposed by the governments of the DPRK and the ROK which will take place alongside, but not as part of, the Olympic Games. The delegations welcomed the invitation of the NOC of the DPRK to the IOC President to visit the DPRK. The IOC would like to express its most sincere thanks to the governments of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for paving the way for these decisions in the Olympic spirit.
The Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre Seen From The Top Of The Jumping Ramp
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The IOC would also like to express its gratitude to the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) for its always constructive and efficient contribution to the implementation of these decisions. Today’s decisions demonstrate how Olympic sport always promotes the Olympic spirit of understanding and mutual respect.
The Gangneung Ice Arena Illuminated By Night
Building on the results today, the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula and inviting the world to join in a celebration of hope.”