North Korean athletes set off for the Paris Olympics

(20 Jul 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4507321

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pyongyang, North Korea - 20 July 2024
1. Various of North Korean athletes, family members and sports officials getting off coach and going into airport terminal building
2. Various of North Korean Minister of Physical Culture and Sports Kim Il Guk walking into airport and past athletes UPSOUND (Korean) Kim Il Guk: "Got everything ready?"
3. Various of North Korean athletes and sports officials filling in departure forms, walking towards departures and saying goodbye to family members
STORYLINE:
North Korean athletes set off for the Olympics in Paris on Saturday - the first time the country will have taken part since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The socialist state declined to send a squad to the Tokyo Olympics while its borders remained closed against virus.

The International Olympic Committee penalised Pyongyang for its no-show.

North Korea also didn't go to the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, but traditionally its participation in the Winter Olympics has been less than in the Summer Olympics.

North Korean athletes and officials, dressed in white jackets, got off a coach early on Saturday morning at Pyongyang airport and did not talk to media as they moved through the airport.

Minister of Physical Culture and Sport Kim Il Guk walked in shortly afterwards, briefly asking the squad if everything was ready, as he walked past and into the terminal building.

It's not clear if Kim Il Guk is going to Paris for the Olympics.

The last time North Korea went to the Olympics, in Brazil in 2016, senior official Choe Ryong Hae made the journey there.

North Korea normally competes in a few Olympic disciplines like wrestling, weightlifting, judo, shooting and gymnastics.

Sports authorities are usually very reluctant to promote their players in advance of any competitions.

But medal-winners are met with carefully coordinated cheering crowds on their return home.

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[WaddyYT]

Everyone writing to escape, they won’t run off, they know the consequences for their family if they do

[guillermotell]

14 athletes winning 6 medals, that's incredible!

[poorchef]

How do they feel when they see people from other countries free to do anything within the law

[Tony-qqou]

It’s so sad that some ppl still have to live under dictatorship 😢

[PhionahNasasira]

I think they have tracking devices in their bodies just in case one attempts to escape, , poor people!!

[rft]

0:55 finally someone equal to the size of Kim Jong un 😮

[HazelMabborang]

Imagine learning since birth that north korea is the greatest, most free, and richest country, then going to other countries to compete and seeing how much better others are

[MaLu]

I really hope they can finally find a way out

[pete]

I hope they escape while they’re in France

[audiofactory]

Russia is banned from Olympics but north korea is allowed. What an irony

[xkdlrjTjs]

They even don't know they are slaves for one person

[Kate-hhyi]

Just imagining the years or generations of labor for these athletes, their children and grandchildren... if they don't win...

[touchofgrey]

Two out of every ten is a security agent!

[Rahhh._]

Why the footage look like take in 2000s

[uwishiwasu]

What are they not allowed to see other humans?

[chicago]

As they wow not to ever get back to north Korea run while you can !

[imnugget]

Imagine coming from a country saging everything out there is worst and evil but everyone you see have cars, jewelry, eating kitkat and other candy for the rich and power running 24/7 with ac and heater

[MommyCassReborns]

they have such formal travel clothes all match and, matching luggage. It's so interesting. I hope they did well.

[luckysui]

They sent so few athletes but they did very well.

[mediahost]

Yoon Se-Ri missed the opportunity to join them😂