Two Koreas Aim for Unified Team in 2008

2004/07/15

The International Olympic Committee announced on July 2 that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are expected to march together during the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens Olympic Games in August. A single flag, bearing an image of the Korean peninsula, is expected to symbolize the rapprochement of the two governments.

The parliament in the South and authorities in the North have been presented with a resolution, signed by 41 ROK lawmakers, urging a unified Korean team for Beijing's Games in 2008.

Jacques Rogge, IOC President, said "It shows that sports can unite and promote peace. It is wonderful to see the two NOCs [national Olympic committees] putting Olympic values into practice in such a demonstrable way."

The DPRK and ROK remain technically at war since a truce was agreed to in 1953.

For more information, see: Korean Olympic Committee, http://www.sports.or.kr



	Article featured in Business Beijing, July 2004 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Development & Reform Commission of Beijing Municipality, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Beijing Sub-Council)