Tokyo Olympics Rising Sun Flag and Radiation Concerns Raised... IOC "Will Continue Discussions"

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), emphasized in July that Korea should trust and entrust the IOC to resolve concerns regarding the Rising Sun Flag and radioactive contamination issues at the Tokyo Olympics.

On the 11th (Korean time), President Bach held a breakfast meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, with Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee Ki-heung, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and Yoo Seung-min, IOC Athletes' Commission member, exchanging opinions on the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games and the 2032 Summer Olympics co-hosted by South and North Korea.

In a separate meeting with Minister Park and President Lee Ki-heung, concerns about the use of the Rising Sun Flag at the Tokyo Olympics and the provision of food ingredients with a high possibility of radioactive contamination in the athletes' village were conveyed to the IOC, and efforts to resolve these issues were requested. President Bach responded by understanding Korea's position and asking to trust the IOC and entrust the resolution of these issues.

Meanwhile, Gangwon Province was confirmed as the host city for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games at the IOC General Assembly the day before. It received a landslide victory with 79 votes out of 81 valid votes, excluding 2 opposing votes.

President Bach said, "The voting result at the General Assembly can be interpreted as reflecting the IOC members' satisfaction with the success of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and their trust in the Korean government." The IOC expressed its intention to send working-level officials to Korea next week to immediately begin preparations for the event.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.