S. Korea to enter int'l sports event for military athletes

SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will compete at an international sports event for military athletes in Brazil this month, the defense ministry said Friday. The ministry said 92 athletes and 71 officials will compete at the fifth Military World Games in Rio de Janeiro from July 16 to 24. The International Military Sports Council (CISM) is the organizer of the quadrennial event. The inaugural event was held in 1995. It's designed to encourage military athletics and boost friendly relations among the world's armed forces. The ministry said the Rio event will draw about 8,000 athletes and officials from 110 countries in 20 sports. The South Korean military operates an athletic corps, called Sangmu, largely made up of professional or amateur athletes who have to do their mandatory, two-year service. The ministry said Sangmu athletes will form the core of the delegation to Brazil, joined by special forces troops who are well trained in parachuting and military pentathlon. South Korea has been among the top 20 in the medal standings. The ministry said the goal this year is to crack the top five. South Korea will host the next Military World Games in 2015 in the southeastern town of Mungyeong.