The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has declared that North Korea and South Korea will make a team in three sports and six activities at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia and Palembang.
The four-party meeting was held at INASGOC’s Headquarters on Thursday morning, the OCA said that the two National Olympic Committees will join basketball, dragon boat and oar competition, namely:
- Women’s Basketball
- Men’s Paddle Boat and Wantia, which are Discipline on Kano / Kayak on Sport program
- Menung Paddle: LM4-, LM8 +, and Women’s Paddle LW2X
However, there should be no addition of quotas for athletes already enforced to all other NOCs. OCA welcomes the joint participation of these two Korean countries with enthusiasm. This is the historical moment in Asian Games history and the International Director and Relationship of OCA National Olympic Committee Mr. Vinod praised this decision.
“It will be a history in the Asian Games for the OCA and for the continent. Asia itself because this will be the first time for North Korea and South Korea to unite as a team in some sports” said, Vinod Kumar Tiwari.
“They’ve been together before the Opening Ceremony and we are very happy that they will continue this union cooperation in the spirit of further unity and friendship. We thank the two NOCs from South Korea and North Korea for coming to Jakarta and continuing their appeal for unity We are grateful to the 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee for their support. ”
Although the final deadline for NOC registration to collect names has been closed on 30 June, this joint team only extended until July 10th. The 18th Asian Games is scheduled to take place from August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang with 40 Sports Branches, 67 disciplines and 463 events. About 10,000 athletes will compete from 45 countries.
Women’s Basketball will be held at Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan, Jakarta, and Dragon Boat in Palembang. The meeting also decided that the joint delegation would be represented by 200 athletes and official delegates at the Opening Ceremony Parade, with a share of 100 for each.
Three delegates from Pyongyang led by Vice President NOC DPR Korea Won Kil U, and four representatives from Seoul led by Choong R Jeon as Secretary General. The meeting was also attended by Vice Chairman of the 2018 Asian Games Executive, Sajfrie Sjamsoeddin and Director of International Executives of Asian Games 2018, Indra Kartasasmita. – Olympic Council of Asia .