The controversy over the “dismissal ceremony” of the 2024 Paris Olympics continues. The Korean Sports and Olympic Committee has made an explanation and rebuttal against the cancellation of the unilateral event. Then, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) countered again.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on Wednesday, “The Korea Sports Council is the one who prepared the dismissal ceremony at Great Hall. The ministry went to attend the event. It is as if the ministry prepared it separately at Great Hall, and the sports association is said not to have attended the event, so I would like to inform you of the fact.”
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the association initially asked Incheon International Airport to host the event at the arrival hall. Incheon International Airport proposed the Great Hall considering congestion and athletes’ safety. The agreement was reached.
Sports association staff prepared for the event at the Great Hall. Since then, it has been suddenly changed to the arrival hall as Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, and other parties have arrived.
The medalists who entered the country first were waiting at the Great Hall to attend the ceremony, but suddenly turned into the arrival hall and were unable to attend. Later, they encountered the arriving athletes near the arrival hall.
It was the sports association that called in the players who had already arrived, but the fact that they could not attend the arrival hall event was “suddenly changed.” It also released photos of sports association staff preparing at the ceremony hall.
“Considering this, the ministry’s spokesperson said, ‘I was wrong in explaining that I originally decided to do it at the arrival hall. I think I can check with Incheon International Airport,” the ministry’s spokesperson said. “I keep writing down a few letters because I keep getting different explanations.”
The situation happened on Wednesday. After the 2024 Paris Olympics, the team returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport. More than 50 athletes, including Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, and athletes in seven sports, came to the venue. 스포츠토토
Lim Ae-ji (Hwasun County Office), a boxing bronze medalist who served as the flag bearer at the closing ceremony, and Park Tae-joon (Korea National Sports University), a taekwondo gold medalist, exited the country carrying the Korean national flag. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yoo In-chon personally greeted the national team. Yoo gave a bouquet of flowers to Chairman Lee Ki-heung and even hugged him.
The problem is the disbanding ceremony. It seemed to be held in a separate venue (Great Hall). Everything was prepared, including seats. However, the ceremony was held simply in front of the arrival hall. Chairman Lee Ki-heung made a greeting, and Jang Jae-geun, president of the athletes’ village, declared the dissolution. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “The committee unilaterally changed the schedule without prior notice.”
“We asked Incheon International Airport for an official letter of cooperation in the first place, with the venue of the ceremony being Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the first floor,” the sports association said on Sunday. “We have held events related to return to Korea in recent years at the airport.” It even disclosed the official letter sent to Incheon International Airport.
“Considering the fatigue of the team due to long flights, flight delays, and time to receive luggage, congestion and safety due to the movement of the event venue, we inevitably reduced the event at the originally planned arrival hall,” he said. “We delivered interviews of players who attended the event to be conducted individually after the event is over.”
About three hours after the sports meeting was announced, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism refuted again. It is said that the sports association prepared for the ceremony. Suddenly, the “truth game” began.