First batch of N. Korean Asiad delegation arrives
Members of the first batch of the North Korean delegation to the Asian Games arrive at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. The 94-member group including officials, medical staff, reporters and athletes were taken straight to the Athletes' Village in Guwol-dong, central Incheon. / Yonhap
By Kwon Ji-youn, Nam Hyun-woo
INCHEON ― The first batch of the North Korean delegation for the Asian Games arrived at Incheon International Airport, Thursday.
The 94-member group included Jang Su-myong, a senior official of the North’s Olympic Committee, referees, medical staff, reporters and athletes who will compete in football and rowing.
An Air Koryo plane landed at the airport at 6:47 p.m. and the members appeared at the terminal after an hour.
Clad in white jackets and blue trousers and skirts, they waved to reporters and civic organization members waiting for them. But they did not answer reporters' questions.
They were wearing badges of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
Some 40 civic organization members holding flags printed with the outline of the Korean Peninsula cheered the athletes, shouting “We are one.”
As police officers cordoned the North Koreans off from press, they immediately got on buses and departed for the Athletes' Village in Guwol-dong, central Incheon.
Several athletes were carrying boxes of DVD players manufactured by Hana Electronics, a North Korean home appliance maker. While riding on the buses, they again waved to citizens and reporters.
According to the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee, the North will send a total of 273 athletes and reporters in five batches. Committee officials said 87 of them will arrive next Tuesday, 33 on Sept. 19, the opening day of the Incheon Games, 41 on Sept. 22 and seven more will arrive on Sept. 28. Ten will enter Incheon directly from Japan and Swiss-based footballer Park Kwang-ryong of FC Basel will fly from Switzerland.
One hundred and fifty North Korean athletes are scheduled to compete in 14 sports.
In the 2002 Asiad in Busan, the reclusive country finished ninth in the medal table, but failed to reach a higher level in the two following Games. The first sport in which North Korean athletes will appear is a men's football match against China on Sept. 15.
In the meantime, South Korean athletes held a ceremony pledging to do their best in the Incheon Games, Thursday, the day before they entered the Athletes’ Village.
“This Asian Games, I think, will play a role in invigorating our country,” said Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) President Kim Jung-haeng.
He was referring to the nation’s lingering sadness over the sinking of the ferry Sewol that killed nearly 300 people, mostly high school students.
The Korean delegation resolved to finish second with at least 90 gold medals. The Asiad starts its 16-day run on Sept. 19.
Some 520 athletes were present at the ceremony at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park. Also on hand were Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok.
Prime Minister Chung asked the public to contribute to a successful Asian Games.
“The Asiad is a prominent festival. I hope people play an active role in making sure our foreign guests feel welcome here in Korea, as well as to cheer our athletes on,” Chung said. “Let us show the world how dynamic our country and people are.”
In an interview, defending champion Nam Hyun-hee expressed her eagerness for a third and fourth Asiad gold in foil and team foil events.
“I’ve gone back to the basics, and have been training with a renewed mind,” Nam said. “I’m determined to bring home another gold.”
The Athletes’ Village will accommodate 14,500 competitors and officials from the participating countries.
The 1,068-member South Korean team includes 831 athletes in 36 sports and will enter the village today and Sept. 16.