IOC invites Korean leaders to Sydney

Both President Kim Dae-Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il were invited to attend the opening ceremony for the 27th Sydney Olympics.

The IOC informed the KOC that IOC head Antonio Samaranch had officially invited both Korean leaders to attend the Sydney Olympics in order to further global peace through the games.

This is the first time that the IOC has ever jointly invited the leaders of a divided nation or from regions under internal strife. With the exception of East Timor, which is not an IOC member, most countries in the world are expected to take part in the Sydney Olympics, making them the largest ever.

The joint invitation of the North and South Korean leaders is a second attempt to encourage reconciliation following a decision on the joint entrance of both teams. Korea will send a team of 390 athletes to the Sydney Olympics while North Korea will send around 50.