President Lee Mikyung (front, fourth from right) of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and athletes and other dignitaries from developing countries who are at the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games pose for a commemorative photo after exchanging gifts, at Team Korea House in the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 10. (Jeon Han)
By Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Gangneung, Sokcho | March 10, 2018
In the Olympics and Paralympics, on which the attention of the whole world is focused, in addition to sporting events where the athletes compete for each country, the heritage, science and technology of the host country are put on show. There's cooperation between the host country and the participating countries and it makes the Games that much better.
There is also private cooperation, as well as sport exchanges, for participating countries and for non-Koreans living in Korea during the "Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games."
Kazakhstan's President Kairat Boranbayev of the National Paralympic Council (NPC) emphasizes the importance of the Paralympics during a gift presentation ceremony of encouragement for athletes from developing countries at Korea House in the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 10. (Jeon Han)
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) hosted a “gift presentation ceremony of encouragement for athletes from developing countries” and offered words of encouragement to them, at Team Korea House in the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 10.
Kazakhstani President Kairat Boranbayev of the National Paralympic Council (NPC) said that, “Korea’s support for disability sports in developing countries is a momentous driving force that helped them to achieve the Paralympics’ dreams." President Lee Mikyung from KOICA replied by saying that, "Korea will play a role in realizing a society in which disabled people in developing countries are able to exercise their capabilities, thereby contributing to world peace.”
Non-Koreans living in Korea who participated in the 'Exploration with PyeongChang Paralympics Theme' listen to a special lecture titled 'The impact of North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on South-North relations,' held at the Hotel Maremons in Sokcho, Gangwon-do Province, on March 10. (Kim Sunjoo)
Meanwhile, the Korea Foundation (KF) held its "Exploration with PyeongChang Paralympics Theme," where non-Koreans living in Korea were able to experience the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games in-person, on March 11 and 12. A total of 107 non-Koreans from 44 countries shared their thoughts about the "Peace Olympics" and attended a lecture titled "The impact of North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on South-North relations."
Tyo Inna from Uzbekistan, a third-generation ethnic Korean, emphasized that, "North Korea's athletes and cheering squads are a symbol of peace and stability." Tchuenga Seutchueng Thierry Gaitan from Cameroon said, “South and North Korea showed the world that the two Koreas are one during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. We all hope that peace will stem from the Winter Games and that it will go on and finally lead to the reunification of Korea."
twkim0717@korea.kr
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