TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) confirmed that South Korea and North Korea will merge as a single team for three games and six activities in the 2018 Asian Games. This decision was taken following a meeting at the Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INASGOC) main headquarters in Senayan yesterday, June 28.
“This will be a history maker for the Asian Games and for the Asian continent considering it’s the first time North and South Korea united as a single team for several sports competitions,” said Vinod Kumar Tiwari, OCA Director of International and National Olympics Committee Relations in a statement.
Both Koreas that has decided to perform under a unified peninsula flag will compete in three games such as women’s basketball, dragon boat, and paddling.
“Both Koreas have walked side by side before the opening ceremony and we are really glad that both countries can continue their unification partnership in the spirit of unity and friendship,” said Vinod.
Despite the unification, there will be no additional quotas available for their athletes up to the ‘entry by name’ process on June 30. The meeting has agreed to bring 100 each, which totals to 200 athletes during the Opening Ceremony Parade.
In the meeting between both countries, North Korea was represented by three delegates from Pyongyang led by North Korean Vice Sports Minister Won Kil U, while four representatives from Seoul were led by Sec. Gen. Choong R Jeon.
The 18th Asian Games will be held from August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang.
EGI ADYATAMA
