Prime minister, sports officials address Team Korea at launch event ahead of Paris Olympics

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo hopes Paris becomes the “most glorious city” for Korean athletes competing at this year’s Olympics.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a launch ceremony for the Paris Olympics at Olympic Hall in southern Seoul on Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo hopes Paris becomes the “most glorious city” for Korean athletes competing at this year’s Olympics.

“About 15 days are left until the Paris Olympics,“ Han said during an Olympics launch ceremony at Olympic Hall in southern Seoul on Tuesday. “This Olympics is particularly meaningful in the fact that it is the first Games seeing spectators and athletes since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I hope Paris, the city of culture and art, becomes the most glorious city for Korean athletes.”

The launch ceremony saw Han joined by Culture Minister Yu In-chon, Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) President Lee Kee-heung, Lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo, Chef de Mission Jeong Gang-sun and other sports officials delivering encouraging speeches to Team Korea ahead of the Games taking place in the French capital for the first time in a century.

This year’s Olympics will see a total of 144 Korean athletes competing across 22 sports — the smallest group since the Montreal Games in 1976, partially due to most Korean teams’ failure to qualify for the Games.

The women’s handball team is the only Korean team participating at the Olympics, but some strong contenders in different sports, like swimmers Hwang Sun-woo and Kim Woo-min as well as table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, are heading to Paris on the back of medals from the international stage.

“I promise that our national squad will work the hardest to show skills they have honed and make great contests and play fairly,” Jeong, who is in charge of the national team as chef de mission, said. “I will make sure that our players compete at the Olympics with the pride of representing Korea inside the stadium and with an exemplary attitude outside the stadium so that they can elevate Korea’s status and deliver our nation joy and excitement.”

Despite sending the smallest national squad to an Olympics since 1976, the government is set to offer athletes all the necessary support, including a pre-training camp in France that Korea has not had since the 2012 London Olympics.

“There will be many difficulties, especially the heat, food and stuff, but I hope that our athletes exercise their skills and effort as much as possible, as they have prepared for a long time to achieve their objectives in a fair manner,” KSOC President Lee said.

The Culture Ministry will also provide 100 fans, 150 cooling sheets and 200 cooling jackets to help athletes maintain their performance without being affected by the potential heat at the Olympic Village, which has no air conditioning despite the expectations of a sweltering Parisian summer.

Tuesday’s launch ceremony also saw KSOC President Lee handing Chef de Mission Jeong a Korean flag that represents Korean athletes’ hopes and passion, which Jeong waved to show his desire to bring good results with Team Korea.

Chef de Mission Jeong Gang-sun waves a Korean flag at the Paris Olympics launch ceremony at Olympic Hall in southern Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The Paris Olympics will run from July 26 through Aug. 11, with around 10,500 competitors set to participate across 32 sports.

“I ask our nation for great attention and support for Team Korea as they head to Paris so they can produce the best results on the dream stage,” Jeong said.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]