Incheon (South Korea), June 30 (IANS) Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah Sunday said he could bring North Korea to the Asian Games here in 2014.
After seeing “an excellent and amazing opening ceremony” Saturday, Sheikh Ahmad found the absence of the North Korea delegation as the only flaw. Forty-four of all 45 OCA members attended the opening ceremony which was held at the Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium. Indian athletes, whose Olympic association was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in December 2012, joined the parade of athletes with an IOC flag.
“The city of Incheon was very keen to have the delegation from North Korea. Mayor Song Young-Gil had done a great job for this and Kim Young-Soo, chairman of the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee, also gave me full authority,” said Sheikh Ahmad.
“We were trying to have them here now, not next year. But because of the programme now, we can understand (that they were not here). For next year, I can see a very positive signal. We’re now still in communication and I hope we can bring all 45 members of the OCA to Incheon next year,” added Sheikh Ahmad.
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