Chang Ung, the North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told a news conference that “if Pyeongchang is selected as the host city (for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games) we will do our best to have the two Koreas not only enter the 2004 Athens Olympics hand-in-hand, but also possibly field a unified team”.
He told a press conference in Madrid Spain on Thursday that “all possibilities are open”.
Chang also mentioned Pyongyang’s decision to dispatch athletes and a cheering squad to the Summer Universiade which will be held in the South Korean city of Daegu in August.
He added, “one thing clear is that if Pyeongchang hosts the Games, it will provide a grand opportunity to implement the inter-Korean summit declaration that was designated to help bring peace to the Korean peninsula”.
Kim Jin-sun, the executive President of the bid committee and governor of Gangwon Province, where Pyeongchang is located said, “Pyeongchang 2010 will be a prelude for peace of the Korean peninsula. It’s my humble believe that the resounding legacy of the Games should be another consideration under the same conditions”.
As for arranging another joint march in Athens Kim said, “this is subject to further discussions because it involves IOC rules and qualifications. Anything is possible after we pulled off this historical joint march together in Sydney”.
IOC President Jacques Rogge said of the joint march, “we are thrilled about this initiative that we fully support. This is a symbolic sign of what sport can offer to mankind”.
