As Thomas Bach, chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who was selected as the recipient of the 15th Seoul Peace Prize, was cancelled, the ripples are not subside.
As for the reason why the visit to Korea, which had been scheduled for a long time ago, was suddenly canceled, both the IOC and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Culture) emphasized that there was no other reason other than the spread of Corona 19.
In other words, Chairman Bach and his party were supposed to visit Korea on the 24th, but recently, as the number of people infected with Corona 19 in Europe, especially Switzerland, increased rapidly again, it was inevitable to cancel overseas travel because it became seriously difficult.
In the beginning, Chairman Bach's movement was to leave his residence in Switzerland on the afternoon of the 23rd and arrive in Paris, France, and then use Korean Air to enter the country through Incheon International Airport on the 24th at 3:00 PM on the 23rd at Paris time.
Chairman Bach canceled his visit to Korea on the 23rd day in Switzerland time.
After first notifying the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, which awards the Seoul Peace Prize, the Korean Sports Association was notified at about 9:00 PM on the same day in Korea.
That is why Chairman Bach decided to cancel his visit to Korea just before leaving the country.
When Chairman Bach decided to cancel his visit to Korea on the grounds of Corona 19, the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation and Korea Sports Association were disappointed and regretted.
For about a month, I have been working hard to prepare for Chairman Bach's visit to Korea, because I heard the news that he was not coming a day ago.
The Seoul Peace Awards ceremony was eventually replaced online in the afternoon of today (26th), and the 100th anniversary event of the founding of the Korea Sports Association, which was scheduled to brighten the spot with Chairman Bach, attended the afternoon of the 27th.
Currently, the most controversial issue is the dissolution of the interview with President Moon Jae-in.
Chairman Bach was supposed to visit the Blue House on the morning of the 26th to meet President Moon, but when his visit to Korea was canceled, it was automatically lost.
For this reason, some people in the domestic sports world are pointing out the'runess' of Chairman Bach, who'punked' the meeting with President Moon.
“Even if Corona 19 spreads, it does not mean that the border from Switzerland to Paris has not been blocked, nor that aircraft from Paris to Seoul have not been operated. "I can't get rid of the feeling that I took the interview with the head of state of the Republic of Korea too lightly."
Another sportsman B said, “The IOC and Japan have repeatedly expressed their intention to hold the Tokyo Olympics next year despite the Corona 19 incident. However, Chairman Bach, who was scheduled to visit Korea this time, had only four people in his party, but he was able to fight Corona 19. He gave up going to Korea for the reason.. In words, the difficulty of overseas travel was mentioned as a reason for canceling the visit, but in reality, it is highly likely that he was concerned about the infection. "Can you tell tens of thousands of players and reporters around the world to come to Tokyo for Corona 19?"
Some of the domestic sports circles, including the Korea Sports Association, point out the'rulye' of the Blue House.
The most unconvincing issue is the issue of attendees when Chairman Bach visits the Blue House.
Since the winner of the Seoul Peace Prize was Chairman Bach, the head of the IOC, I thought that Lee Ki-heung, the current president of the Korea Sports Council, and IOC member Yoo Seung-min will be present at the Korean Sports Association.
This is because when an IOC chairperson visits a country, it is customary for that country's IOC member to perform.
However, Lee Ki-heung and Yoo Seung-min were excluded from the list of attendees.
The answer returned to them was that "Chairman Bach's visit to the Blue House is not related to the Olympics and is intended to be a Seoul Peace Prize winner, so there is no need for a Korean IOC member to be present."
However, what is more incomprehensible is that the chairman of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, which awards the Seoul Peace Prize, has also fallen into the list of attendees.
It is common sense that the Blue House decides how to determine the attendees in consultation with the relevant ministry.
Since the Seoul Peace Prize and Culture Foundation is an organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Blue House seems to have decided on the final seats after discussing it with the Ministry of Culture.
In this regard, Mr. C, a senior domestic sportsman, said, "There was a lot of talk about the selection of the seats, but in the end it was concluded that only the second vice minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Culture was attended by Choi Yun-hee. I heard that even the Chairman of the Foundation was in the last minute. It is impossible for Chairman Bach to be aware of this confusion and internal noise. I think it was rude to Chairman Bach.”
Ahead of Chairman Bach's visit to Korea, the domestic sports industry has shown severe divisions.
This is because the sharp conflict between some members of the Democratic Party, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and the Korea Sports Association, which is pushing for the separation of the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC), has been known to the international sports world.
As long as such a sports diplomatic tragedy continues, the vision of becoming a'sports advanced country' from a'sports powerhouse' will only be a'shoe line'.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea, Yonhap News)