South Korean President receives Olympic Order from President Bach - leaders discuss success of PyeongChang 2018 and future cooperation
In a special ceremony at the Blue House in Seoul, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach awarded the Olympic Order in Gold to the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in.
The Olympic Order in Gold is the highest honour given by the IOC. It is awarded to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the Olympic cause. The award was given today in recognition of the invaluable role of President Moon in the great success of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, which included the participation of athletes from the NOC of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The participation of a team from the DPRK and the joint march by athletes from the two Koreas were the culmination of a long process of negotiation and high-level government engagement by the IOC, which began in 2014.
Speaking after the ceremony, President Moon thanked President Bach and the IOC for the honour.
"The reason for the success of the Games as 'Peace Olympics' is all down to you and to your leadership, and the great support of the IOC," said President Moon.
After the ceremony, the two leaders held face-to-face talks at the Blue House, where they discussed the options for having joint teams, such as in the mixed relay, and other joint activities during the next two editions of the Games, and in such a way further contribute through sport to peaceful rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula. They agreed to continue these discussions at a working level, including with the two Korean NOCs.They also discussed the success of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, particularly in financial terms, with the Organising Committee having already announced a substantial profit.