South Korea opposed Russia’s participation in the Asian Games

“No one consulted with us”

The South Korean Sports and Olympic Committee (KSOC) intends to contact the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for additional clarifications regarding the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Asian Games, which will be held at the end of 2023 in China.

As MK previously reported, in December 2022, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) made a proposal at the Olympic Summit in Lausanne to promote the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions under its auspices. The representatives of the international federations present supported this initiative. On January 25, 2023, the OCA once again invited Russia and Belarus to take part in the Asian Games, which will be held from September 23 to October 8 in China. The OCA also confirmed its position at the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee on January 25, 2023, when the IOC formulated special requirements for the possible return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions.

As expected, not all National Olympic Committees of the OCA member countries agreed with this position. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, KSOC intends to send a letter to the OCA to find out how the Asian Games will be held with the participation of athletes from the two countries.

Moreover, a KSOC spokesman told Yonhap that the OCA had not consulted about the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in this tournament. Therefore, the KSOC will seek responses from the continental organization.

“With the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, the holding of knockout tournaments at the Asian Games may cause some problems.. We will ask the OCA how it will act in these situations, as well as in what sports Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete in the Asian Games,” – said a KSOC spokesperson.

Earlier, OCA Acting President Randhir Singh said that a system was being developed to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete for qualifying places at the Olympic Games next year, but promised that athletes from Asia would not miss out on medals and quotas for Paris 2024.

Singh suggested that separate medals could be awarded to athletes from Asian countries if Russian and Belarusian athletes deprive them of their place on the podium.

The Indian official also stated that they will not be able to participate in combat sports such as wrestling at the Asian Games.

Singh said the reason the OCA invited athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in its event is based on “the principle that sport is a unifying force”.

“Sport is not a place for politics. Sport for athletes, for love, friendship and brotherhood. Athletes are one family. “On that basis, we support them,” Singh told the Indian Express.

South Korea is third in the all-time Asian Games medal table and placed in the top three at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 with 177 medals including 49 golds.