"Confident to the End" Yoon In-chon Cheers for Paris Olympic Team

Korean National Team Farewell Ceremony... Wishing Success Through Letters

The government wished the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics delegation success.

On the afternoon of the 9th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a send-off ceremony for the Republic of Korea delegation to the Paris Olympics at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park. The event included an encouragement speech by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, remarks by delegation leader Jung Kang-sun, the presentation of the delegation flag, and congratulatory performances. Attendees included the athletes, Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran, Lee Ki-heung, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and members of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.

After the ceremony, Minister Yoo delivered letters of encouragement written to all athletes to fencing athlete Koo Bon-gil and badminton athlete Kim So-young, representatives of the delegation. He had previously delivered letters to archery athletes after watching the 'Archery National Team 2nd Special Match' held at the Jincheon National Training Center on the 3rd.

Minister Yoo said, "I believe the athletes, just 17 days away from the opening of the Paris Olympics, are feeling both tension and excitement," adding, "I wrote the letters with the hope that they will approach the competition with confidence until the very end."

Vice Minister Jang, an Olympic gold medalist, stated, "If all our people support the athletes with one heart and one mind, they will feel inspiration and hope in the games," and added, "I hope the athletes can fully demonstrate their skills and return safely without injury."

The Paris Olympics will open on the 26th and run until the 11th of next month. A total of 10,500 athletes from 206 countries will participate in 329 events across 32 sports. South Korea will send 262 people, including 144 athletes and 118 coaches, competing in 22 sports.