'Korea will show good sportsmanship'
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Korean delegation chief Nam Sang-nam waves the Korean flag at the 27th Winter Universiade inaugural meeting at the Taereung National Center in northern Seoul on Thursday. / Yonhap
Winter Universiade delegation launches inaugural meeting
By Baek Byung-yeul
The Korean delegation to the 27th Winter Universiade had its inaugural meeting at the Taereung National Center in northern Seoul, Thursday.
This year’s Winter Universiade will be co-hosted by Spain and Slovakia ― the ski jumping, cross-country skiing, biathlon and Nordic skiing events will take place in Strbske Pleso and Osrblie in Slovakia from Jan. 24-Feb. While other events including alpine skiing, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, short track speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey and curling will be held in Spain’s Granada from Feb. 4-14.
Organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the Universiade, a combination of the words “university” and “Olympiad,” is a biennial international multi-sport event. It is open to university student-athletes who are between the ages of 17 and 28. Korea’s Gwangju City will host the 28th Summer Universiade from July 14.
Korea ― which finished second in the 2013 Winter Games held in Trentino, Italy with eight gold medals, nine silver and seven bronze ― will send 133 members, including 90 athletes and 43 staffers for the 2015 Winter Games. The FISU said about 2,500 participants from 50 countries are expected to take part in the event.
Yoo Byung-jin, chairman of the Korea University Sports Board (KUSB), called on the athletes “to demonstrate good sportsmanship” at the Universiade.
“As the intellectuals who represent Korea, I am calling on the athletes to play fairly demonstrating good sportsmanship in the Universiade,” Yoo said at the delegation’s inaugural meeting, Thursday.
Kim Jung-haeng, president of the Korean Olympic Committee, also encouraged the delegation.
“I want them to cherish friendships with athletes from other countries and to take a role as people-to-people diplomats in the international competition,” Kim said.
The meeting ended after Yoo handed over the Korean delegation’s flag to Nam Sang-nam, chief of the Korean delegation to the Winter Universiade.
“Thanks to the support from everyone, we will do our best there to pave the firm way for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics,” Nam said.
The Korean delegation bound for Slovakia will leave on Jan. 22, and athletes who will play in Spain will depart on Jan. 31.