News April 30, 2018, 11:33 IST
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Seoul, April 30 (AFP) Seven sports associations of South Korea is considering forming joint teams with North Korea for this year's Asian Games in Indonesia, an official told AFP today, but reports say soccer will not join them.
At its groundbreaking summit on Friday, the latest step in a fast-moving diplomatic sequence, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South President Moon Jae-in agreed to show solidarity by "participating jointly in international sporting events such as the Games Asians 2018. "
The phrasing remained open either as a reference to unified teams, or marching together in the opening ceremonies, as they have done in several previous Olympic Games, including this year's Winter Games in Pyeongchang in the South.
But a spokeswoman for the National Olympic Committee of the South told AFP that the governing bodies of "basketball, judo, canoe, gymnastics, table tennis, rowing and soft tennis have expressed interest."
No details have been discussed yet, he added.
Seoul's unification ministry declined to comment on the issue, but said the two sides will soon hold a work-level meeting that may include discussions on joint teams at the Asian Games.
Some sports organizations are already moving forward, proposing their own plans for the Asian Games, which will take place in Jakarta. and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.
The Korean Canoe Federation said on Monday that a joint team for the dragon boat race – one of the three canoe disciplines at the event – will be a good idea since Korea does not have a national team for it.
"Even if we form a joint team, it will not affect any existing athlete," the group said in a statement.
Joint teams could hold open practice sessions on the Han River in Seoul as well as the Taedong River in Pyongyang, I added.
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But the South Football Association rejected the idea, reported the Yonhap news agency , saying that the move could require unwanted sacrifices from its players.
In South Korea, male athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or any Olympic medal are exempt from mandatory two-year military service.
Tottenham Hotspur Heung-min's front son could be among the players seeking the title of the Asian Games to allow him to extend his career in Europe without interruptions.
Son retired from the consideration of the South Korean team for London 2012 – when the team finished third, the member winnings the exemption – concentrate on their club activities with Hamburg SV.
When a joint team of women's ice hockey was first raised for the Winter Olympics, it provoked a backlash in the South, with the argument that Seoul was depriving its own athletes of the opportunity to compete in the Olympic stage. [19659013] Ultimately, the vision of skaters from North Korea and South Korea who wore the same shirt and passed the puck received emotional responses from the spectators and quickly became the Olympic favorites, despite the fact that team was defeated in all five games.
the approach on the peninsula was triggered by the Games, to which North Kim sent athletes, cheerleaders and his sister as envoy.
The historic meeting on Friday saw Kim and Moon agree to seek the complete denuclearization of the peninsula and improve the interrelation. Korea relations.
The Seoul Ministry of Defense said on Monday that it will start eliminating propaganda speakers along the border with the North on Tuesday
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