By Nam Hyun-woo
An International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from the U.K., Adam Pengilly, will leave Korea after allegedly assaulting a security guard hired for the PyeongChang Winter Games, according to officials, Thursday.
According to the IOC and PyeongChang organizers, the guard, whose identity was withheld, claimed that he was assaulted by Pengilly near the Main Press Center of the Games, after he was stopped by the guard.
The guard claimed that he stopped Pengilly because he was walking on a bus lane, not a road for pedestrians.
The guard claimed Pengilly refused to comply with his instructions, dragged him about 30 meters and knocked him down.
The guard added that Pengilly threatened him, telling him he would never work in Korea anymore if he tells his supervisor about the incident.
An IOC spokesperson told The Korea Times that, "Following an interview with the IOC Ethics and Compliance officer Pengilly will leave the Olympic Games and Korea immediately."
The spokesperson continued: "Pengilly has expressed his apologies to the security guard."
Given Pengilly's IOC mandate will expire on Feb. 25, the IOC did not mentioned any additional punishment for him.
"The IOC wishes to apologize for the behavior of one of its members and feels extremely sorry for the incident caused by Adam Pengilly," the spokesperson said.
In an interview with Inside The Games, Pengilly denied the allegation, saying he did not touch the guard.
Pengilly is a former skeleton racer, who participated in the 2006 and 2010 Games. He has been in the member of the IOC since 2010, taking part in the Commission for Coordination of the PyeongChang Olympics.
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| An IOC confirmation email to The Korea Times. |
According to the IOC and PyeongChang organizers, the guard, whose identity was withheld, claimed that he was assaulted by Pengilly near the Main Press Center of the Games, after he was stopped by the guard.
The guard claimed that he stopped Pengilly because he was walking on a bus lane, not a road for pedestrians.
The guard claimed Pengilly refused to comply with his instructions, dragged him about 30 meters and knocked him down.
The guard added that Pengilly threatened him, telling him he would never work in Korea anymore if he tells his supervisor about the incident.
An IOC spokesperson told The Korea Times that, "Following an interview with the IOC Ethics and Compliance officer Pengilly will leave the Olympic Games and Korea immediately."
The spokesperson continued: "Pengilly has expressed his apologies to the security guard."
Given Pengilly's IOC mandate will expire on Feb. 25, the IOC did not mentioned any additional punishment for him.
"The IOC wishes to apologize for the behavior of one of its members and feels extremely sorry for the incident caused by Adam Pengilly," the spokesperson said.
In an interview with Inside The Games, Pengilly denied the allegation, saying he did not touch the guard.
Pengilly is a former skeleton racer, who participated in the 2006 and 2010 Games. He has been in the member of the IOC since 2010, taking part in the Commission for Coordination of the PyeongChang Olympics.
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