The Korean Team Begins Its Training for Local Adaptation

The Korean team, which is aiming for the top 10 entry for 4 times in a row in the 19th Salt Lake Winter Olympics, began its local adaptation training after the entrance ceremony at the Olympic Village on the 5th.

Korea was the 12th group to enter the Olympic Village, and International Olympic Committee member Kim Woon-Yong, the head of the athletes, Park Sung-In, and 54 national athletes were present at the ceremony. The short track team was not present because it was having a high-altitude training in Colorado Springs. It is to join the team on the 10th.

There were celebration performances, and 200 overseas Koreans participated in the ceremony to cheer for the Korean athletes.

The Korean team began its local adaptation training after the ceremony, as the athletes spent the afternoon working out at the weight training room. Each event’s coaches were checking on courses and the general atmosphere.

After the training, the athletes visited Wood Cross City, which the Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC) connected as a sister city for the team, and met its welcoming citizens. The welcoming ceremony took place at Wood Cross High School stadium, where over 1,000 citizens gathered to make Korean foods themselves, and welcome the athletes with the elementary school children singing Korean folk songs like `Arirang`.

Meanwhile at the Rice-Eccles stadium on the same day, rehearsal for the opening ceremony was held, and the Olympic torch entered the Utah State. The torch started its trail from Atlanta on December 4th, last year, and was handed over to a Native American runner after arriving at Arches National Park. The torch will enter Salt Lake City on the 8th, and will light the opening of the Olympics at the Rice-Eccles stadium on the 9th.

The 113th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session opened at Little American Hotel, in the 3-day schedule. Jacques Rogge, who succeeded last year’s IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, presided the session for the first time, and International Judo Federation (IJF) President Park Yong-Sung will almost certainly be elected as an IOC member. The definite IOC member election results will be announced on the 7th.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com