The possibility was raised that Lim Hyo-jun, 25, a gold medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, who shocked by choosing naturalization in China, could not compete in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics he wanted.
An official from the Korean Sports Association said in a phone call with SBS that "Im Hyo-jun is a Korean national, and since it has not been 3 years since he participated in the international competition, it will be difficult to compete in the Beijing Olympics as a Chinese national athlete if Korea opposes it according to regulations."
The so-called'three-year probation rule' that holds Lim Hyo-jun's back is stipulated in Article 41, Paragraph 2 of the <Olympic Charter>.
The rules of the original text are as follows.
"A competitor who has represented one country in the Olympic Games, in continental or regional games or in world or regional championships recognized by the relevant IF, and who has changed his nationality or acquired a new nationality, may participate in the Olympic Games to represent his new country provided that at least three years have passed since the competitor last represented his former country.This period may be reduced or even cancelled, with the agreement of the NOCs and IF concerned, by the IOC Executive Board, which takes into account the circumstances of each case."
The gist of this clause is that in order for an athlete to change his nationality as A and compete in the Olympics as nationality B, at least three years must pass from the last time he competed in nationality A.
The last international match for Lim Hyo-jun wearing the Taegeuk mark was the 2019 World Short Track Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 10, 2019.
In this competition, Lim Hyo-jun won four crowns, including a men's 1,000m gold medal.
On March 10, 2019, Lim Hyo-jun exhibited as a Korean national.
Three years from this is March 10, 2022.
In other words, after March 10th, you can compete as a Chinese national.
However, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will start on February 4th next year and end on February 20th.
If the rules are applied as they are, you will not be able to compete in the Beijing Olympics.
Of course there are exceptions.
If the relevant NOCs and IFs agree, the three-year grace period can be reduced or canceled altogether with the approval of the IOC Executive Committee.
The relevant NOC here means the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) and the China Olympic Committee (COC), and IF (International Federation) means ISU (International Ice Skating Federation).
There is no reason for the ISU, as well as the ISU and the IOC, to oppose Lim Hyo-jun's participation in the Olympics as a Chinese national team player.
The problem is Korea.
The <Olympic Charter> clearly states'with the agreement of the NOCs'.
In this regard, an official from the Korea Sports Association said, "As a result of inquiring with the Korea Ice Skating Federation, Lim Hyo-jun confirmed that there is a shortage of 3 years to just 1 month. If the Olympic Committees of Korea and China reach an agreement, there is no problem, but there is no problem. If there is no agreement, the principle is to follow the three-year rule."
If the China Olympic Committee requests cooperation with Hyo-jun Lim's participation in the Beijing Winter Olympics, it is a matter that requires a high level of judgment as to whether the Korea Sports Association opposes or accepts it.
If you disagree, you are concerned about the deterioration of Korea-China relations, and if you admit it as it is, you are effectively'dedicating' Short Track Ace to rival countries.
If the Korea Sports Association does not agree, it is highly likely that Hyojun Lim's participation in the Beijing Olympics will be cancelled.
This is because it is impossible to play as a representative of China while acquiring Chinese nationality, and it is practically difficult to obtain Korean nationality and participate again.
Mr. A, who is well versed in the domestic sports field, said, "In a word, it has become a'hot potato'. Im Hyo-joon is an unqualified athlete in Korea who has been disciplined for one year due to an unfavorable incident in Korea. "It can be a bad precedent if you change your nationality and allow him to compete as an athlete from another country in the next Olympics. In reality, if Hyo-jun Lim plays as a Chinese athlete, he may take Korea's gold medal into account," he said.