South Korea is apparently considering creating another unified Korean team for the upcoming Winter Olympics, even though the South Korean government has faced strong criticism for its decision to create one in the first place.
South Korea is open to the idea, a senior official with the Korea Ski Association told Yonhap News Agency, further explaining, “We could review a plan to form a joint team with athletes from the South and North for the team sprint competition in cross-country skiing.” The official, who asked for anonymity, said it would not be a difficult process, but creating a joint team would require the approval of the International Olympic Committee and the International Ski Federation.
The North and South, with the approval of the IOC, are already planning to march together under a unified Korean banner, as well as field a unified Korean hockey team for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea.
“The Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula and inviting the world to join in a celebration of hope,” IOC President Thomas Bach said this past weekend. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and other members of his liberal administration has expressed similar sentiments, calling the upcoming Games the “Peace Olympics.”
While the South Korean government is optimistic about fielding a unified Korean team, the first in Olympic history for these two countries torn apart by war, many South Koreans are decidedly displeased.
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A recent SBS survey conducted earlier this month revealed that 73 percent of the population opposed the idea. The figure was at 82 percent for South Koreans in their 20s and 30s. Tens of thousands of people have petitioned the government to reconsider, and protesters loudly criticized the decision when North Korean players arrived in the South Thursday.
Despite the backlash and anger that resulted from the decision to create a unified team last minute, the South Korean players and coaches were friendly when they welcomed their northern counterparts Thursday.
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