Olympic Games And North Korea
With the 2018 Winter Olympics in full swing, a new development has taken the world by surprise. After much ado, North Korea has sent 22 athletes to compete in the global sports event. But how did it happen?
There are many who are confused as to how an economically isolated country like North Korea has managed to get its athletes trained enough to participate in international competitions and Olympics. North Korea had been banned from participating in the Olympics due to certain criteria not being met. For instance, the nation had to prove it upheld certain values and standards, which it had failed to do in the past.
Recently, however, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared North Korea to compete after talks between the country and South Korea. During talks, the two sides agreed to have a united team for the event. This meant that North Korean athletes would march under the same flag and play for the same team as the South Koreans.
The decision to allow North Korea to participate in the Olympics was highly criticised by some. Some accuse the IOC of compromising with a nation that is accused of accusations such as human rights. Some even claim that the IOC is facilitating aPR stunt by the North Korean government.
Others point out that North Korea deserves a chance to be a part of the world sporting arena. To deny them that chance, they believe, could be a violation of human and sportsmanship rights. After all, the world of sports should be free of politics.
Furthermore, there are those who believe that North Korea’s involvement in the Olympics could be a way of easing inter-Korean tensions. The move could encourage better relations between the two countries, they say.
North Korean Olympians Blessing
Some in the international sporting community view the presence of North Korean athletes in the 2018 Winter Olympics as a blessing. They reason that choosing which countries get to compete at the Olympics is one of the primary tasks of the IOC and therefore, must have been a thought-out decision.
Furthermore, the team of North Korean athletes includes a mix of both young and experienced athletes. From the figure skaters to the hockey team, the members of the North Korean delegation have trained for many months to compete on the world stage. Their presence at the Winter Olympics poses a unique opportunity for the international community to mingle and bond under one roof.
The inclusion of North Korea in the Olympics is being seen as a win-win situation for both North Korea and the IOC. North Korea will be able to showcase the sporting talents of its citizens while the IOC will be able to attract more international attention and viewers.
The many North Korean nationals participating in these games are a reminder that not all North Koreans take part in their government’s activities. The people of this nation are more than capable of putting aside political differences to come together in the spirit of the games.
Impact Of North Koreans In The Olympics
Though the only North Korean athletes participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics are a figure skating couple, the country’s presence is either being cheered or abhorred. The controversial decision has elicited both stress and cheers from different sections of the globe.
North Korea’s presence in the games has made it a main topic of discussion in social media and everyday conversations. The world has watched with both intrigue and awe as the North Korean Athletes paraded wearing the unified flag with their South Korean counterparts.
The North Korean athletes have also been commended for displaying a sporting spirit, despite the political tension engulfing their country. This spirit is evident in the figure skating couple’s promise to play for both North and South Korea and the alpine-skier’s congratulating of their fellow athletes.
North Korea Team At Risk Of Failing To Qualify
It is not easy to tell if the talent of the North Korean athletes measure up to that of their opponents. The athletes have so far failed to qualify in any of the contested events with none advancing to the medal rounds.
The figure skating couple is likely to also underperform in their event as the duo has only received training for about two years due to the restrictions put in place by the North Korean government.
The North Korean athletes have, however, gained an array of support from around the world due to their determination and perseverance.
Difficult Path To Olympics For North Korean Athletics
It has been a long journey for North Korean Athletics to make to the Olympic podium. Since North Korea was officially admitted as a member of the International Olympic Committee, a lot of effort has gone into training both coaches and athletes in the spirit of excellence.
The nation launched its National Olympic Committee to continuously train its athletes for participation in the Olympic Games. It has also developed elite sports training centers, billed as “sports clubs”, to nurture its athletes in various sports.
Such centers have produced a good number of medalists at Asian and other international sporting events. However, the nation’s athletes may have faced difficulties due to the lack of training or limited access to international competitions in which to broaden their experience.
Economic Motives Behind North Korean Participation
It has been argued that economic motives could be behind North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics. This may be reinforced by the fact that the country has sent its largest and most expensive delegation ever, totaling more than a hundred people.
Although at face value, North Korea’s involvement in the Winter Olympics appears to be an attempt to foster peace, some say it might also be an effort to reduce international sanctions. Several experts have pointed out that one of the ways for North Korea to be eligible for international sports events is to prove financial stability or have a third party sponsor.
This could be the reason why North Korea’s athletes are accompanied by a high-ranking official, Kim Yong-nam, who, if anything, is more recognised than the athletes. He serves as Supreme People’s Assembly President and one of the Secretary Generals of the Korean Workers’ Party.
North Korean Athletes Seized By The International Community
Not only are North Korean athletes receiving attention but they are being seized by the international community. North Korea has sent out a small team, including a team of cheerleaders, to the Olympics in Pyeongchang.Though the team’s presence is a sign of hope, it largely remains to be seen if North Korea will be able to bridge the gap between their country and the outside world through sports diplomacy.
North Korea’s participation in the Olympics is also notable for the attention it is drawing from the international community. Media outlets, websites, and newspapers are focusing on North Korea’s athletes and the message they are trying to convey.
Though the presence of North Korean athletes in the Winter Olympics has been met with both criticism and praise, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to any real dialogue between the two Koreas.
North Korean Prosecutions In Athletics
The IOC has tightened its conditions towards North Korea in an attempt to prevent the country from profiting at the Olympics. The new measures equate to North Korea being held responsible for any illegal activity by its athletes.
The proposal introduces an independent inquiry process that a nation can be subjected to if it falls short of the Olympics standards of fair play. If a nation is found to have been engaging in illegal activity, they can be suspended or even removed from the Olympic Games.
This places North Korea at an interesting crossroads. The country must respect these new regulations in order to remain a part of the Olympic Charter. That said, North Korea has certainly changed its stance on the Olympics, and it remains to be seen if this will lead to a better future for its citizens.
Communication Aspect Of North Korean Olympics Participation
The impact of North Korean participation in the Olympics extends far beyond just sports. As the athletes are competing in the Winter Olympics, they are in a sense, representing their nation’s people and actively participating in a communication endeavour. By pacing in dialogue with athletes from other nations, North Koreans are displaying an openness to the world that had until now been lacking.
The North Korean team is undoubtedly being watched by millions of people worldwide. This presents a unique opportunity for North Korean athletes to make small yet powerful changes in the eyes of the international community.
By showcasing their athletic talents and engaging in communication with experienced athletes from other nations, North Korean athletes are proving that sports diplomacy can be a powerful tool foreffecting change.
Socio-Political Landscape of North Korea
The decision to send North Korean athletes to the Olympics has sparked a lot of debate about the nation’s socio-political landscape.
Though at present the athletes may be free of politics and just focused on competing, the worldwide audience is keenly observing the North Korean team at the games.
The Olympics are an opportunity for North Korea to prove it is ready to become a global player, despite its troubled past. Participating in the Olympics could serve as an opportunity to shed its impoverished dictatorship image, but there are a number of steps North Korea needs to take before it can achieve this goal.
Though North Korea’s human rights record has improved slightly over the last few years, the nation still has much to do if it is to be accepted in the global community.
Conclusion Of North Korea’s Presence In The Olympics
The 2018 Winter Olympics marks the fourth time that North Korea has participated in the Olympics as an independent country. The optimism with which North Korea’s athletes participate in the games is tempered with the reality of coercive governance and state-sponsored violations of human rights.
The world is watching to see if the presence of North Korean athletes can have an impact on inter-Korean relations. As it stands, it is difficult to speculate on the outcome of the Games and the ramifications for the Korean peninsula. Regardless, the presence of North Korean athletes in the 2018 Winter Olympics will continue to be a topic of much discussion and debate.
