ZCZC
BSP-06
ASIAD2018-NKOREA-SKOREA
Koreas to field first-ever joint teams for Paralympic event
JAKARTA, Sept 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – North and South Korea have agreed to
march under a neutral Korean peninsula flag and form unified teams for some
sports at the upcoming Asian Para Games.
“This is the first time the two countries have paraded together and
competed together at a para-sport event,” Majid Rashed, chairman of the Asian
Paralympic Committee, said in a statement posted Sunday.
About 100 athletes from South Korea and 20 from North Korea will compete
at the multi-sport event in the Indonesian capital Jakarta between October 6-
13.
Flag-bearers from each country will carry a Korean unification flag and
competitors will wear the same uniforms at the opening and closing
ceremonies, the statement said.
The two countries, still technically at war, will field two joint table
tennis teams and a mixed team in a men’s 4×100 metre swimming relay event.
North and South Korea formed unified teams for some events at the Asian
Games in Jakarta and in Palembang from August 18-September 2, securing one
gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Earlier this month the two countries announced a joint bid for the 2032
Olympics, in a deepening sign of rapprochement on the peninsula.
Some 3,000 athletes from 43 countries are expected to take part in 15
Paralympic and three non-Paralympic sports during next month’s event.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1402 hrs