President Moon welcomes IOC members in Gangneung, attends IOC's General Assembly
Arirang News
2018-02-06
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President Moon Jae-in delivered a speech at the annual IOC General Assembly in Gangneung on Monday night, marking the start of a demanding schedule leading up to the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Friday.
Our Blue House correspondent Hwang Hojun reports.
President Moon didn't shy away from expressing his excitement over South Korea hosting the quadrennial event, speaking at the 132nd session of the International Olympic Committee in Gangneung,... the joint host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
"In four days, the Olympic flame that was first kindled at the Temple of Hera in Greece will light up the Olympic cauldron, after passing through the hands of 7,500 torchbearers who represented 75 million South and North Koreans. The Olympic spirit will soar as the world's winter festival commences."
It has been a tradition for the IOC to hold its annual general assembly in the host country of that year's Olympic Games.
President Moon started his speech by welcoming guests attending the general assembly, some 1,000 in total.
He said it's a dream come true for the nation to be able to host the Winter Games in PyeongChang at its third try, after losing bids for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
He introduced all the preparations South Korea has made, as the host country... such as presenting the world's first ever ultra-fast 5G network service,... as well as launching the "Dream Program" initiative that introduces winter sports to young people living in countries that don't have winter weather.
President Moon's speech reached its climax when he thanked the IOC for not only letting North Korea participate at the last minute but also forming a unified team.
"About a month or two ago, many countries worried about the safety of the PyeongChang Olympics. It seemed foolish to many to even imagine the possibility of North Korea participating, let alone forming a unified team. But the concern has disappeared, and our imagination has become reality."
He said a safe and peaceful Olympics was the brainchild of the IOC and South Korea, and the PyeongChang Games will show to the world that sports can transcend all political and ideological walls and boundaries,... which is,... according to President Moon, the greatest value of the Olympics.
The South Korean leader further reiterated that the successful hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will mark the start of establishing peace in Northeast Asia, as Japan and China are set to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics, respectively.
He vowed to work and cooperate with not only the IOC but Japan, China and all other countries in Asia.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.
Our Blue House correspondent Hwang Hojun reports.
President Moon didn't shy away from expressing his excitement over South Korea hosting the quadrennial event, speaking at the 132nd session of the International Olympic Committee in Gangneung,... the joint host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
"In four days, the Olympic flame that was first kindled at the Temple of Hera in Greece will light up the Olympic cauldron, after passing through the hands of 7,500 torchbearers who represented 75 million South and North Koreans. The Olympic spirit will soar as the world's winter festival commences."
It has been a tradition for the IOC to hold its annual general assembly in the host country of that year's Olympic Games.
President Moon started his speech by welcoming guests attending the general assembly, some 1,000 in total.
He said it's a dream come true for the nation to be able to host the Winter Games in PyeongChang at its third try, after losing bids for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
He introduced all the preparations South Korea has made, as the host country... such as presenting the world's first ever ultra-fast 5G network service,... as well as launching the "Dream Program" initiative that introduces winter sports to young people living in countries that don't have winter weather.
President Moon's speech reached its climax when he thanked the IOC for not only letting North Korea participate at the last minute but also forming a unified team.
"About a month or two ago, many countries worried about the safety of the PyeongChang Olympics. It seemed foolish to many to even imagine the possibility of North Korea participating, let alone forming a unified team. But the concern has disappeared, and our imagination has become reality."
He said a safe and peaceful Olympics was the brainchild of the IOC and South Korea, and the PyeongChang Games will show to the world that sports can transcend all political and ideological walls and boundaries,... which is,... according to President Moon, the greatest value of the Olympics.
The South Korean leader further reiterated that the successful hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will mark the start of establishing peace in Northeast Asia, as Japan and China are set to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics, respectively.
He vowed to work and cooperate with not only the IOC but Japan, China and all other countries in Asia.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.
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