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| ▲ Members of the South Korean delegation for the Tokyo Summer Olympics pose for photos at the end of their launching ceremony at the Olympic Park in Seoul on July 8, 2021. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Lee Kee-heung, head of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, addresses South Korean Olympic athletes during a delegation launching ceremony at the Olympic Park in Seoul on July 8, 2021. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Lee Kee-heung (L), president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, hands over the national flag to Jang In-hwa, head of the South Korean delegation for the Tokyo Olympics, during the team launching ceremony at the Olympic Park in Seoul on July 8, 2021. (Yonhap) |
S Korea-Olympic delegation
S. Korea launches delegation for Tokyo Olympics
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea embarked on a quest for a top-10 performance at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics with a launching ceremony for its delegation on Thursday, with the weary nation ready to lean on its Olympians for hope and inspiration during the global coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea will send 232 athletes and 122 officials in 29 out of 33 sports to the Japanese capital for the July 23-Aug. 8 competition.
The 32nd Summer Olympics were postponed by one year because of the coronavirus outbreak. With Tokyo still struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, the multisport competition will be fraught with the kind of challenges that athletes haven't had to face before in earlier Olympics.
The stated objective for South Korea is to capture six to seven gold medals and rank inside the top 10 in the medal race. It would be the country's fifth consecutive top-10 showing at the Summer Games, dating back to the 2004 Athens.
Volleyball icon Kim Yeon-koung and rising swimming star Hwang Sun-woo will serve as South Korea's flag bearers at the opening ceremony.
Lee Kee-heung, head of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), said athletes' health and safety will be of foremost concern.
"I am convinced that this year's Olympics will be a significant event, where we'll overcome the COVID-19 pandemic with the Olympic spirit founded on peace, tolerance and understanding," Lee said at the launching ceremony. "I hope you will all give your best effort and honor the spirit of fair play to accomplish your goals. And don't forget that South Korean people will be behind you along the way."
In his address to the athletes, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said he'll count on the Olympians to cheer up and inspire South Korean people during the pandemic.
"We believe in the power of sports. We've had great athletes give us hope whenever the country was going through difficult times," Kim said. "Now is your time. No matter what the final results will be, we would love to see you give your best effort until the very end."
Kim also expressed hope that the Olympics will provide an opportunity for peace and reconciliation, as participating athletes share the Olympic spirit of respect and friendship.
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