North Korea to bow out of Tokyo Olympic Games

The Pyeongchang 2018 Unified Korean Peninsula Olympic flag. Photo: courtesy citizentruth.org.

SEOUL, South Korea. — COVID has claimed its first nation regarding the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. According to North Korea’s sports ministry website, North Korea will not send athletes to compete. North Korean representatives have yet to officially notify the Tokyo Olympic Committee, says the Associated Press (AP).

The Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games saw a unified Korean Peninsula as athletes from the North and South marched together in the opening ceremony wearing all-white uniforms and waving a flag newly-created for the occasion.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it had hoped that the Tokyo Olympics would have provided an opportunity to improve inter-Korean relations, AP reports.

Although North Korea has reported no COVID-related deaths, it cites the goal of keeping athletes safe as the reason for its non-participation. The entire Summer Games was postponed due to the pandemic and is rescheduled for July 23rd.

The Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games remain only the third US city, along with Lake Placid 1932/1980 and Squaw Valley 1960, to host a Winter Olympic Games. The 2002 Games came out ahead as one of the most successful financial endeavors in the modern era and a model for sustainability and legacy venues. The Salt Lake bid committee continues to pursue robust interests in future Olympic Games as it firmly has its finger on the pulse of the games-within-the-Games of which cities the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awards for playing host.

Today is International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) as recognized by the United Nations (UN) and the IOC.