JINCHEON, June 28 (Yonhap) – Leaders of the Korean Olympic and Sports Committee (KSOC) on Monday pledged that the country’s athletes competing in the Tokyo Summer Olympics will be fed fresh and healthy food, dispelling the concerns related to the ingredients of a Japanese prefecture affected by radioactive contaminations.
During a press conference at the Jincheon National Training Center, 90 kilometers south of Seoul, Jang In-hwa, head of mission for South Korea at the Tokyo Olympics, answered a question about meals South Korean athletes and whether they will eat food from Fukushima, an area exposed to high levels of radiation following the nuclear power plant accident triggered by a tsunami in March 2011.
“We have already sent ingredients from here to Tokyo, to a catering center near the athletes’ village,” Jang said. “For fruit, meat and seafood, we will only supply verified local products. We will prepare boxed meals for our athletes at competition and training venues. ”
Lee Kee-heung, head of KSOC and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said the IOC, the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency are having discussions on the possibility of serving as a food produced in Fukushima.
“We will educate our athletes on consuming fish and other types of seafood (while in Japan),” added Lee.
Lee touched on other sensitive topics.
As to whether the IOC will sanction any deployment of the flag of the Rising Sun, once used by the Imperial Japanese Army, Lee said that “the IOC and the Tokyo Organizing Committee will strongly tackle the use of the flag. . I think it will not be allowed on the sites. We will work with China and Russia on this front. ”
South Korean sports officials have protested against the Japanese representation of Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islets, as part of its territory on an Olympic map.
Pressed by South Korea, the IOC called the fact that Japan placed Dokdo on its map as “purely topographical expression” without “any political motivation”.
“I plan to meet (IOC President Thomas) Bach in Tokyo and discuss this matter,” said Lee, adding that he had not been able to visit the IOC office in Switzerland with the Olympics so close.
As for the competition itself, KSOC is projecting six to seven gold medals for South Korea. That would put her between 10th and 15th places in the medal race, he added. The country has ranked in the Top 10 at each of the last four Summer Olympics, since those of Athens in 2004.
“Our athletes have had to face so much adversity, including the Covid-19, the uncertain status of the Olympics as well as political and diplomatic issues,” said Shin Chi-yong, head of the National Training Center of Jincheon.
As of yesterday, 226 athletes from 29 sports have qualified for Tokyo. South Korea sent 204 athletes in 24 sports to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The Olympic qualifying events will take place until early July, with those for men’s basketball taking place Tuesday through Sunday. The deadline for submitting candidatures for the Olympic Games is next Monday.
