Buoyed by the role the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics played in easing tensions last year, South Korean and North Korean officials are due to meet on Friday with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Switzerland to discuss what would be the first ever bid by two countries. To make Olympic history, experts say the long-shot bid would need to overcome international sanctions against North Korea, decades of mistrust between Seoul and Pyongyang, and wide political and economic differences between two countries still officially at war. The Switzerland meeting comes ahead of a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam, which will be key to the future of reclusive North Korea’s relations with the world. Since the Olympic bid was announced after a summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang in September, South Korean officials have been pushing forward with plans despite the obstacles. On Monday … [Read more...] about Diplomatic gold? Joint North Korea-South Korea Olympic bid faces long odds
Olympic years and cities
Nguyen Hoang Group to build more “int’l education cities” in VN
A view of International Education City in Quang Ngai, which is expected to open in May. — Photo courtesy of NHG The Nguyen Hoang Group plans to build an “International Education City” (IEC) in many provinces and cities that will offer students modern experience-based educational methods. Last March, NHG began construction of its first IEC project in Viet Nam in the central province of Quang Ngai. IEC is a pioneering educational model in Viet Nam that covers all levels of education of international quality, including the international Saigon Academy kindergarten; the international integration iSchool; the international UK Academy bilingual school and the International School of North America. The 10ha campus in Quang Ngai, which is expected to open in May 2019, includes areas for painting, music, aerobics, laboratories, robots, a theatre, movie theatre, tennis courts, 10-lane-Olympic-swimming-pool and a multipurpose sports hall with 1,800 seats, and other facilities. … [Read more...] about Nguyen Hoang Group to build more “int’l education cities” in VN
Kipchoge and Ibarguen named IAAF athletes of the year
Olympic champion Kipchoge shattered the world marathon record by 78 seconds as he completed the Berlin Marathon in two hours, one minute and 39 seconds while Ibarguen was the Diamond League champion in both the long jump and triple jump. * AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao scored two penalties to secure a 2-0 win at Amiens on Tuesday as they moved out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone to ease the pressure on manager Thierry Henry. It was Monaco's second win in three league games and saw them leapfrog Amiens and Dijon into 17th in the 20-team table. * The Court of Arbitration for Sport handed Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky a four-year ban on Tuesday following a positive dope test at the Pyeongchang Olympics in February. The Russian and his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova were stripped of their mixed doubles bronze at the time of the Games in the Republic of Korea after an in-competition test for the banned substance Meldonium. * Spain's five times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez had … [Read more...] about Kipchoge and Ibarguen named IAAF athletes of the year
Tokyo organisers lauded for “diligent” Olympic example
Speaking at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in Tokyo on Thursday, Bach praised his hosts following their presentation to delegates. “For everything, there are solutions and there are solutions already underway,” the German said during his keynote speech. “The facilities are ready or will be ready in time. You will experience great test events next year. “Tokyo is really an example for a diligent preparation for an Olympic Games and I would like to thank and to congratulate our friends from the Tokyo organising committee once more.” During this week's visit to Japan, which included trips to Fukushima with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Tokyo 2020 offices and venues, Bach has lavished praise on the hosts of the next Summer Games that start in July, 2020. With concerns over candidate cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics, the recent Russian doping scandal and a controversial election of a new chief overseeing … [Read more...] about Tokyo organisers lauded for “diligent” Olympic example
Blast kills 22 near China factory in Olympic city
An explosion and fire near a chemical factory left at least 22 people dead and 22 others injured on Wednesday in a northern China city that will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, authorities said. This photo taken on August 13, 2015 shows a destroyed car as a fire continues to burn after a series of explosions at a chemical warehouse hit the city of Tianjin, in northern China. An explosion and fire near Hebei Shenghua Chemical Co. in Zhangjiakou left at least 22 people dead and 22 others injured on Wednesday. PHOTO |CHINA OUT | AFP The charred and smoking remains of trucks and cars were scattered on a road as firefighters worked at the scene, according to images posted by state media on social media. The incident near Hebei Shenghua Chemical Co. in Zhangjiakou, a city some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northwest of Beijing, burned 38 trucks and 12 cars, the local propaganda department said on its Weibo social media account. The side of a building was covered in soot in front … [Read more...] about Blast kills 22 near China factory in Olympic city