ID :
194643
Wed, 07/13/2011 - 02:13
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/194643
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Co-hosting winter games
(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on July 13)
Co-hosting winter games
The leader of the liberal Democratic Party, Sohn Hak-kyu, proposed Monday that the 2018 Winter Olympics be held in both Koreas. The proposal, if realized, would serve to promote inter-Korean peace. There are political, logistical and procedural issues to overcome before it becomes a reality.
At this stage, it is not possible for cities of the Koreas to co-host the Winter Games without an IOC approval. The IOC picked PyeongChang as the venue of the event. Countries do not host the Olympics: It is the city that hosts the Games.
A second possibility is that PyeongChang will concede part of the games to Mt. Geumgang or Mt. Baekdu in the North. This would also need approval from the IOC.
A third probability is that the Koreas could form a unified team to participate in the Games.
The fourth and most realistic scenario is that the Koreas make a joint entrance under the Korean Peninsula flag. They made two joint marches in the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics.
All of the four scenarios are contingent on improved inter-Korean relations until the opening date.
North Korea could suddenly cancel the co-hosting or the sharing of the Games at the last minute. This would jeopardize the Winter Olympics itself.
The North has not yet broadcast PyeongChang's winning of the bid.
There were provocative acts from the North ahead of two international sports events in the South. Ahead of the Seoul Olympics in 1988, North Korean agents blew up a Korean Air plane in midair in November 1987. During the World Cup in 2002, a Navy skirmish off the northwestern sea border took place.
It is premature to say anything about the idea of holding events on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone. The proposal must first get public endorsement from voters. The next administration will oversee all preparations for the 2018 Olympics.
Once a candidate opposing the co-hosting or sharing the Games wins the presidential election in December next year, PyeongChang should be the only venue for the event. The logical step will be to encourage North Korea to simply participate in the Games.
If a candidate supporting the involvement of the North in running the Games wins, the events could be held on both sides of the DMZ after consultations with the IOC and the North.
Ironically, the next president will participate in the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games, but his or her term will expire before the closing ceremony. The succeeding president will tend to the conclusions.
Under whatever circumstances, the 2018 Olympics will be a key factor in thawing the chilly inter-Korean relations. If the Olympics are successfully held in both Koreas under the IOC???s blessing, the IOC should become a logical candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. The PyeongChang Olympics will be a shining success if the two Koreas add synergy to the event.
Co-hosting winter games
The leader of the liberal Democratic Party, Sohn Hak-kyu, proposed Monday that the 2018 Winter Olympics be held in both Koreas. The proposal, if realized, would serve to promote inter-Korean peace. There are political, logistical and procedural issues to overcome before it becomes a reality.
At this stage, it is not possible for cities of the Koreas to co-host the Winter Games without an IOC approval. The IOC picked PyeongChang as the venue of the event. Countries do not host the Olympics: It is the city that hosts the Games.
A second possibility is that PyeongChang will concede part of the games to Mt. Geumgang or Mt. Baekdu in the North. This would also need approval from the IOC.
A third probability is that the Koreas could form a unified team to participate in the Games.
The fourth and most realistic scenario is that the Koreas make a joint entrance under the Korean Peninsula flag. They made two joint marches in the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics.
All of the four scenarios are contingent on improved inter-Korean relations until the opening date.
North Korea could suddenly cancel the co-hosting or the sharing of the Games at the last minute. This would jeopardize the Winter Olympics itself.
The North has not yet broadcast PyeongChang's winning of the bid.
There were provocative acts from the North ahead of two international sports events in the South. Ahead of the Seoul Olympics in 1988, North Korean agents blew up a Korean Air plane in midair in November 1987. During the World Cup in 2002, a Navy skirmish off the northwestern sea border took place.
It is premature to say anything about the idea of holding events on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone. The proposal must first get public endorsement from voters. The next administration will oversee all preparations for the 2018 Olympics.
Once a candidate opposing the co-hosting or sharing the Games wins the presidential election in December next year, PyeongChang should be the only venue for the event. The logical step will be to encourage North Korea to simply participate in the Games.
If a candidate supporting the involvement of the North in running the Games wins, the events could be held on both sides of the DMZ after consultations with the IOC and the North.
Ironically, the next president will participate in the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games, but his or her term will expire before the closing ceremony. The succeeding president will tend to the conclusions.
Under whatever circumstances, the 2018 Olympics will be a key factor in thawing the chilly inter-Korean relations. If the Olympics are successfully held in both Koreas under the IOC???s blessing, the IOC should become a logical candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. The PyeongChang Olympics will be a shining success if the two Koreas add synergy to the event.
