 |
|
Gangwon Gov. Choi Moon-soon announces that Gangwon Province will join the provincial branch of the South Korean Committee for the June 15 Joint Declaration to form an inter-Korean cheering squad for the Pyeongchang Olympics during a press conference at the Gangwon Provincial Office on Jan. 29. (provided by Gangwon Province)
|
The joint cheer group will be support South and North Korean athletes during competitions
Gangwon Province has joined the provincial branch of the South Korean Committee for the June 15 Joint Declaration to form an inter-Korean cheering squad for the Pyeongchang Olympics. “In bringing South and North together, the Pyeongchang Olympics are embodying the Olympics spirit of peace and togetherness and will be a milestone in world peace,” Gangwon Gov. Choi Moon-soon said in a press conference on the morning of Jan. 29 at the Gangwon Provincial Office. “Based on discussions with the Gangwon branch of the South Korean Committee for the June 15 Joint Declaration, we will be forming a joint cheering squad to support South and North Korean athletes in their competitions,” Choi said. The Gangwon branch of the South Korean Committee for the June 15 Joint Declaration also formed an inter-Korean cheering squad to support North Korean athletes at the Women‘s Ice Hockey World Championships in Gangneung in Apr. 2017. The group has been preparing to organize a joint cheering squad for the Pyeongchang Olympics as well. Based on current discussions, recruitment for the squad will be handled by the Gangwon branch of the committee, which has experience in the area, while Gangwon Province offers support with transportation, meals, admission, and uniforms. The squad is expected to consist of university students, displaced people, and members of civic, social, and religious groups, among others, with a total of around 200 members to match the 230-member North Korean cheering squad attending the Pyeongchang Games. “We have finished making preparations in various areas to ensure the Pyeongchang Olympics are the most successful in history,” Choi said, adding that “national unity is needed by people from all walks of life to ensure that the Pyeongchang Olympics can be a true ’peace Olympics‘ with North Korea’s participation.” In working-level discussions at high-level inter-Korean talks on Jan. 17, the South and North Korean sides agreed on a plan where the North would send a squad of around 230 members to cheer at Pyeongchang Winter Olympics events and competitions involving South and North Korean athletes, including joint cheering with South Korean supporters. Both sides also provided guarantees on cheering squad activities by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). By Park Soo-hyuk, Gangwon correspondent Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
