Sports (Kim Jae-yeol), athletes (Yoo Seung-min), and country (Lee Ki-heung). Isn’t that perfect?”
Korean Sports Ministry President Lee Ki-heung welcomed the election of International Ice Skating Union (ISU) President and Samsung Economic Research Institute President Kim Jae-yul as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Lee spoke to Yonhap News Agency at the Mokpo Indoor Swimming Pool, where a morning swimming event was held on the closing day of the 104th Jeonnam National Games.Kim’s election brings the number of South Korean IOC members to three.
President Lee Ki-heung has served as an IOC member as a representative of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), while Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korea Table Tennis Association, has been an IOC athlete member. In addition, Kim became a new IOC member as a representative of the sport’s International Federation (IF).
It has been 18 years since the late Kim Yong-yong, the late Lee Kun-hee, and Park Yong-sung served as IOC members simultaneously from 2002 to 2005, and there are high hopes that South Korea’s diplomatic power will be strengthened in the international sports arena.
“The ‘trifecta’ of sport (Kim Jae-yeol), athlete (Yoo Seung-min) and country (Lee Ki-heung) has created the perfect framework for collaboration,” Lee said, adding, “There are many challenges, including the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, and our voice will be heard.”
As Kim is a member of the Samsung family, there is a cautious view among athletes that his election to the IOC could be a trigger for a revival of corporate investment in sports after the Choi Soon-sil scandal.
“Since the Choi Soon-sil scandal, large companies have shied away from investing in sports, which is very disappointing,” Lee said, adding that the environment for elite athletics has become very weak.
“When our athletes go to the Asian Games and the Olympics and perform well, it raises our national profile. “When our athletes go to the Asian Games and the Olympics and do well, it raises the brand value of Korea,” he said, adding that “corporations should invest in sports and create infrastructure.” Lee was very cautious about the likelihood that Kim’s election to the IOC would immediately lead to increased corporate investment in sports, saying, “There is a role and a responsibility. I hope companies will pay attention.”
Yoo’s term on the IOC has less than a year to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics.Park In-bee, the “Empress of Golf,” will succeed Yoo as an IOC member. If she wins the election, which will be held during the Paris Games, South Korea will continue to have three IOC members.
However, there is some speculation that President Kim’s election as an IOC member could be a disadvantage for Park In-bee.Lee responded, “It’s something that can be said. But it’s a challenge we need to overcome together,” Lee said.
“It’s something that athletes, the government, and the people of Korea need to work on together. I will take the lead, and I am continuing to appeal to the IOC to 카지노사이트 ensure that there is no problem with Park’s election.”