On July 19, members of Team Korea came together for a launch ceremony as they depart for Brazil to compete in the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the first Olympic games to be held in South America.

The national squad is gearing up for the games with the ultimate goal of placing in the top 10 on the medals table, with at least 10 gold medals. With 243 athletes competing in a total of 23 events, each member is fully determined to make sure that the past four years of sweat and tears will finally bear fruit in Rio de Janeiro.



“As Team Korea members will represent South Korea in Rio, hopefully you will show fair sportsmanship in the fight against the world’s best athletes by following the rules properly,” said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as he gave words of encouragement during the ceremony. “These Olympic Games are a wonderful occasion, not only because it is a place where you can display the passion and courage with which you challenge your limits, but also because it is a sporting festival where winners and losers alike come together to have fun.”

The prime minister also said, “I call on you all to become honorable athletes of the nation, who can be a role model for the next generation of promising athletes, with your high-level athletic performance and, of course, sportsmanship. We will stay with you every step of the way.”

By Jeon Han, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Heo Man-jin, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
hanjeon@korea.kr