-
Korea.net's 24-hour YouTube channel- NEWS FOCUS
- ABOUT KOREA
- EVENTS
- RESOURCES
- GOVERNMENT
- ABOUT US
Korean athletes cheer for their team, holding aloft their Taegeukgi national flag scarves, during the launch ceremony for Team Korea on September 11.
Korean athletes heading to the Incheon Asian Games 2014 held a special launch ceremony for Team Korea and vowed to do their best, in the Olympic Hall at the Olympic Park in Seoul on September 11.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Chung Hongwon, Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Kim Jongdeok, Korean Olympic Committee President Kim Jung-haeng and the athletes and trainers themselves.
Prime Minister Chung Hongwon (fifth from left) poses with Team Korea athletes and other dignitaries in front of the Olympic Hall at the Olympic Park in Seoul, where the team's launch ceremony was held on September 11.
Chung said that the Incheon Asian Games will be a grand party for all Asians, being held again in Korea 12 years after the Busan Asian Games 2002.
“The games will be your stage. I hope you take pride in being a national athlete and in representing the Republic of Korea, and I hope you display your ability to the full,” said the prime minister.
“The true winners are the ones who do their best and compete in a fair manner, regardless of the results. We will all be of one mind in supporting you during your beautiful challenge,” he added.
During the ceremony, the leader of the Korean athletes' delegation, Park Soon-ho, received the Taegeukgi from Korean Olympic Committee President Kim Jung-haeng.
“We have the largest ever Team Korea this time. All of you athletes came here today with great pride and bearing great responsibility. I promise all of you that everyone will stand here again and be healthy and proud in front of the nation on the games' closing day,” said Park.
In preparation for the Incheon Asian Games 2014, the leader of the Korean athletes’ delegation, Park Soon-ho (right), receives the Taegeukgi from Korean Olympic Committee President Kim Jung-haeng during Team Korea's launch ceremony on September 11.
Gymnast Yang Hak-seon said on behalf of the athletes that, “This launch ceremony makes me feel that the Asian Games are coming closer. I will do my best to win two golds, in the vault and in the men’s team competition.”
Nam Hyun-hee, the top female fencer on the team, said, “I have been training with passion and with deep resolution. I will strive to win two gold medals here at my third Asian Games in a row.”
The 1,068-strong Korean team is composed of athletes, staff and trainers. Their goal is to win second place in the games and 90 gold medals, in order to become the second place country in four consecutive Asian Games.
Article by Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr
Supporters and parents of the athletes get on stage to cheer up the sports stars during the launch ceremony for Team Korea on September 11.
Pop group T-ara performs on stage during the launch ceremony for Team Korea on September 11.
