Interview at the Paris Olympic Team Departure Ceremony
Departing on the 16th, Election Campaign at the Athletes' Village Opening on the 18th
"Will Meet as Many as Possible and Make Myself Known"
"Will Announce Position on Athletic Career by Year-End or Early Next Year"
‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bee has embarked on a new challenge.
She has been selected as a candidate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission representing Korea and will begin full-scale election campaigning during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Attending the Korean delegation’s send-off ceremony for the Paris Olympics held on the 9th at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, she shared her thoughts: "When I competed as an athlete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, I went straight to the venue after the competition and this is my first time visiting a place like this. Now that I’m here, I really feel that the Olympics are starting, and it feels great."
Park In-bee has won a total of 21 titles on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, including 7 major championships, and earned a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, achieving the ‘Golden Career Slam.’ In August last year, she was selected as an IOC Athletes’ Commission candidate through the Korea Sports Council’s selection process. She also passed the IOC’s screening process conducted for candidates worldwide, securing her eligibility to run in the election.
She will depart on the 16th and begin full-scale campaigning for the IOC Athletes’ Commission election in line with the official opening of the Paris Olympic Village on the 18th. Candidates can campaign directly by visiting athletes in the village or promote themselves through social networking services (SNS). "I am gradually preparing for departure. This time, since I am not competing as an athlete, there is no pressure, but when I was in Rio, I was doing something familiar, and this time I am doing something I have never done before, so the feeling is naturally different. Still, it is true that my mind is much more at ease."
During the election period, Park In-bee revealed her strategy to "meet as many athletes as possible and make eye contact." She said, "After receiving advice, since there are athletes from many countries, I thought that learning even a word or two in various languages might help me approach them more warmly. I was also told that ‘eye contact’ is important." She smiled and added, "I don’t know how much time I will have, but I will try to meet as many people as possible, make myself known, and even say ‘Bonjour’."
The IOC Athletes’ Commission members are elected directly by athletes worldwide. The term is 8 years. As an Olympian, the commission member represents athletes’ voices within the IOC and, if elected, receives the same treatment as regular IOC members. Park In-bee explained, "If I become an Athletes’ Commission member, it will be important to strengthen rights as much as responsibilities for athletes. Since I am a ‘working mom,’ I think participation of such athletes is also important, and in golf’s case, I think it would be good to add team events or mixed competitions so that more people can watch in various ways."
Park In-bee encouraged the juniors competing under the Taegeuk mark. For the men’s division, Kim Joo-hyung and An Byeong-hun will participate, and for the women’s division, Ko Jin-young, Yang Hee-young, and Kim Hyo-joo will compete. She urged, "Believe in yourself, believe in the team, and do your best. I hope all athletes compete without injury and achieve the best results. It will be hot and tough, but I hope you perform well and show what you have prepared."
Park In-bee has not participated in the LPGA Tour since August 2022. Regarding her tour activity plans, she said, "I do not plan to participate this year. I am thinking of announcing my related position around the end of this year or early next year."
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