By Kwon Ji-youn
The 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) said Thursday that North Korea has confirmed its intent to take part in the upcoming international multi-sport event for university athletes.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea submitted an official entry form to the International University Sports Federation (FISU) on Tuesday," a GUOC official said.
The entry form specified that North Korea will send 108 delegates to the GUOC.
The delegation will include 75 athletes competing in athletics, diving, gymnastics, table tennis, judo, women's football and handball, and 33 sports officials.
North Korea has sent an average of 45 athletes to the Universiade competition over the last 10 years. The Universiade is held every other year.
"As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the division of North and South Korea, we hope that North Korea's participation at the Gwangju Universiade will boost exchange between the two Koreas," a GUOC official said.
The Gwangju Universiade will take place from July 3 through 14. Some 20,000 participants from 170 countries will participate in 21 events at venues across the North and South Jeolla provinces.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae has persistently expressed hopes to see a unified Korean team at the second largest multisport event. In 2013, FISU approved the South's proposal for a joint Korean squad at its general assembly.
The two Koreas have competed on a joint team at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships, and at the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship. They have yet to compete as a single national at the Olympics, Asian Games or Universiades.
The GUOC said now that the North's participation in the Universiade has been confirmed, it will push ahead with its plans to invite the North Korean cheering squad and have the torch relay pass through Panmunjeom, an abandoned village on the de facto border between North and South Korea.
North Korea boycotted the 1986 Asiad and the 1988 Summer Olympics, both held in Seoul, but it attended last year's Asian Games in Incheon.
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