A unified Korea to compete in three sports at 2018 Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) yesterday announced that North Korea and South Korea will field a joint team in three sports and six events at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia from Aug 18 to Sept 2.
Following a four-party meeting at the headquarters of Indonesia 2018 Asian Games Organising Committee (INASGOC) on Thursday, the OCA said that the two National Olympic Committees (NOC) would compete as a unified team in basketball, dragon boat racing and rowing.
While the six events are the women's basketball (5x5); men's and women's dragon boat; and rowing – LM4- (men), LM8+ (men) and LW2X (women).
"This will be a historic Asian Games for the OCA and for the continent because it will be the first time that North Korea and South Korea will form a unified team in certain sports.
"They have marched together before in the Opening Ceremony and we are delighted that they are extending their joint cooperation further in the spirit of unity and friendship," said the OCA's Director of International and National Olympic Committee Relations, Vinod Kumar Tiwari in a statement yesterday.
Women's basketball will take place at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Senayan, Jakarta, and the dragon boat and rowing will be in Palembang.
It was also decided that the joint delegation will be represented by 200 athletes and officials in the Opening Ceremony parade, with 100 coming from each side.
The three-strong delegation from Pyongyang was led by the North Korea NOC Vice President, Won Kil U, and the four representatives from Seoul were led by Secretary-general of the South Korea Sport and Olympic Committee, Choong R. Jeon.
The 18th Asian Games will be held at Jakarta and Palembang, capital of South Sumatra province, with 40 sports, 67 disciplines and 463 events.
About 10,000 athletes from 45 countries will take part at the quadrennial sporting event. — Bernama