Thomas Bach succeeded. On an official visit to North Korea last weekend, the IOC President made his stay in Pyongyang magnificently profitable. He was received in a private audience by the owner, Kim Jong-un, for an hour and a half. In itself, already a great performance.
Above all, Thomas Bach brought back the regime leader's promise of North Korea's participation in the Summer Games in Tokyo in 2020, then in those in Beijing in 2022 for the winter version. The Pyongyang regime also assured the IOC of the presence of a delegation of athletes at the Summer Youth Games in Buenos Aires next October, then at the Winter Youth Games in Lausanne in 2020.
As a bonus, it was announced that the IOC will propose a “ potential joint parade » delegations from both Koreas to the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Games, plus a series of other joint activities.
According to an IOC press release, discussions between Thomas Bach and Kim Jong-un last Friday in Pyongyang “ very open and fruitful”. The German leader perfectly fulfilled his role as “facilitator” of peace on the peninsula. “ Now discussions can continue at the political level in the Olympic spirit of understanding and peace, explained Thomas Bach. We will continue to support this political dialogue through sport, helping athletes prepare for and compete in future editions of the Olympic Games.”
A marvel of sports diplomacy, accompanied as it should be by a concrete gesture. At the end of his visit to several sports facilities in the capital, Thomas Bach announced immediate aid from the IOC to North Korean athletes “ so that they can participate in the World Team Table Tennis Championships“, scheduled for early May in Halmstad, western Sweden. Very strong.
En
