New S. Korean IOC member to dedicate self to developing sports

By Yoo Jee-ho RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Seung-min, the newest member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from South Korea, said Thursday he'd like to dedicate himself to developing the country's sports in his new capacity. The 2004 Olympic men's singles table tennis champion was elected to the IOC's Athletes' Commission, a result that surprised many, including Ryu himself. He finished second in the voting by the athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Four seats on the 15-member commission will be vacant after Rio, and Ryu was joined by former German fencer Britta Heidemann, Hungarian swimmer Daniel Gyurta, and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. "I am going to do the best I can to contribute to the development of South Korean sports," Ryu said at a press conference for the South Korean journalists in Rio. Ryu, 34, is the second South Korean to be elected to the commission, after former Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Moon Dae-sung. Moon is one of four outgoing members whose eight-year terms will end this month. Moon was suspended last month over plagiarism in his doctoral dissertation. Ryu said he'd gone through some "long, lonely days" during his campaign. "I didn't have high expectations for the election. And I also heard I wouldn't stand a great chance before I arrived here," he said. "But I was encouraged by people's support. It's an emotional victory for me. I've been playing for myself over the past quarter century, and now I will work for my country," jeeho@yna.co.kr (END)