The South Korean governor of the province that includes Pyeongchang proposed ideas of sharing the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games with North Korea, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
“We can consider symbolically sharing one or two snowboarding events with the North,” said Gov. Choi Moon-soon of the Gangwon Province, according to the report. “The venues don’t take much money or time to build.
“One of the ways to persuade the North to participate in the Games is to share some events.”
“The most realistic way is to launch a unified team. But if the North wants, we can consider sharing some events like freestyle snowboarding and giant slalom events with the approval of the International Olympic Committee.”
In December, Choi shot down reports that Pyeongchang 2018 organizers would consider moving sliding sports to another nation.
“Sharing the competition with another city is not an option we can consider,” Choi said in December, according to The Associated Press. “The South Korean people would never accept it.”
In 2013, Pyeongchang 2018 organizers rejected a North Korean offer to host some of the 2018 Olympic skiing events, citing IOC regulations.
But in December, the IOC approved changes to the Olympics, including allowing events to be held outside the host city and host nation in exceptional circumstances.
Previously, North Korea boycotted the Seoul 1988 Olympics, but the nations marched together under one flag at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Sydney and Athens. North Korea also competed in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
