President Park Geun-hye gives words of encouragement to the national weightlifting squad at the Taereung Training Center in Seoul on July 6.
On July 6, President Park Geun-hye offered words of encouragement to the nation's athletes who will compete in the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with the opening ceremony barely one month away.
“I am rooting for you all here at home, praying that you will put up a good fight,” said President Park. “I expect that it will be a smooth and easy process for Team Korea to rank in the top 10 on the medals table. Such an achievement would be a victory for us in our fourth consecutive Olympic Games.”
President Park Geun-hye receives an autographed handball signed by the whole national handball team from Oh Young-ran, one of the country's handball stars.
When she met members of the national taekwondo team, President Park said, “Now that an awareness of the martial art has been raised all around the world, you should brace yourselves for challenges from new taekwondo athletes from around the world. You should also put on a good performance to save the face of the Korean nation, as it is from our country that the sport originated.”
To the national fencing squad, the president said, “Although it's quite a young sport, fencing has grown rapidly over recent years. We have not yet seen any medal in the men’s sabre individual, though, and we hope you will make history in Rio.”
The president then visited another martial arts team. “When I stepped into the judo teams' training arena, I could smell pain relief medication all around the place and realized just how much the athletes were suffering, getting injured during training,” she said. “I hope you will show the world your great reserves of strength in the upcoming games.”
Finally, to Oh Young-ran, a five-time Olympic handball competitor, the president said, “It’s so moving to see you not giving up and continuously facing the next challenge. I pray for you to make it this time, bearing in mind the dreams that you couldn’t see come true in your last games in Athens.”
Judo athletes train for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as President Park Geun-hye (right) looks on.
President Park Geun-hye (center) poses with the women’s national handball team.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae jiae5853@korea.kr