Korea Aiming for Third Consecutive Second Place Ranking with Ten Gold Medals

The Korean delegation for the Sixth Asian Winter Games Changchun 2007 held a flag raising ceremony on January 26 and pledged to achieve their third consecutive second place ranking.

The team held a 30-minute long ceremony at the flag square of the convention center in downtown Changchun at 11:00 a.m. with delegation leader Bae Chang-hwan (president of the Biathlon Union of Korea) and 21 athletes (participating in short track and men’s ice hockey) present.

Li Longxi, vice mayor of Changchun, welcomed the Korean delegation, and delegation leader Bae responded by saying, “I hope that this competition will be a chance to exchange culture and sports,” and presented him with a jewel box.

During the press conference with local press members, delegation leader Bae stated his goal, “We will win at least 10 gold medals to achieve our third consecutive second place rankings since the 1999 Gangwon games.”

Meanwhile, the North Korean women’s short track team arrived at the Wuhuan Gymnasium where the South Korean short track athletes are training. Coach Kim Il Shin and the women athletes watched the South Korean team training on the ice from the second floor. Coach Kim said, “We’re here to do ground-training. South Korea is a strong team, but we’re expecting medals in the 500 meter events for both the men and women.”

The North Korean team consists of 99 athletes competing in short track, figure skating, and ice hockey.

kimsk@donga.com