[Aju News DB]
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Aju News) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on Sunday he hopes politicians will build on momentum for dialogue created during the Pyeongchang Winter Games, saying the sporting world has done what it could.
Bach praised the Pyeongchang Winter Games as "successful," with the clock ticking down to the closing ceremony later in the evening. Bach lauded great organization and competition facilities for the first Winter Olympics to take place in South Korea.
Having the players from the two Koreas together on the same squad was "a strong message that transcends sports and the Olympic Games," Bach said. "We hope now the political world will use this momentum for a dialogue on their level because now it is up the politicians," he said. "Sport and the IOC have done what we could do."
The IOC approved an inter-Korean deal on the joint march at the opening ceremony and the unified hockey team on Jan. 20. Bach has repeatedly praised both Koreas for sending a powerful message of peace and said they represented the Olympic values of respect and friendship.
Bach also has a standing invitation to visit North Korea, which was extended to him during an IOC meeting over the North Korean participation in Pyeongchang in January. "We have to find a convenient date. We are still discussing this date," Bach said, reiterating his previous stance. "The dialogue will continue."
(Yonhap)
