A delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials and ice hockey players crossed the heavily guarded border into the Republic of Korea on January 25 for joint Olympics training, as Pyongyang called for all Koreans to seek unification of the two nations. The group included 12 players from the DPRK who will form a combined women’s ice hockey team with their southern counterparts at next month’s Winter Olympics in the South Korean mountain resort of Pyeongchang. After going through checkpoints in the RoK at the border, the team travelled to a national training centre in Jincheon, 90 km (56 miles) south of Seoul. In Jincheon, the athletes were met by RoK head coach Sarah Murray, who previously called the government’s decision to form a joint team a “tough situation.” Under an agreement worked out during the first official talks between the two Koreas in two years, the joint team will wear unity jerseys and march under a unified peninsula flag at the Games’ opening ceremony on February 9. Early on January 25, the DPRK sent a rare announcement addressed to “all Koreans at home and abroad”, saying they should make a “breakthrough” for unification without the help of other countries, its state media said. The DPRK and the RoK remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty. Tensions escalated dramatically last year as the regime of Kim Jong Un stepped up its programme aimed at developing a nuclear-tipped… [Read full story]
A delegation of North Korean officials and ice hockey players crossed the heavily guarded border into South Korea on Thursday for joint Olympics training, as Pyongyang called for all Koreans to seek unification of the two nations. The delegation included 12 North Korean players who will form a combined women's ice hockey team with their southern counterparts at next month's Winter Olympics in the South Korean mountain resort of Pyeongchang. Under an agreement worked out during the first official talks between the two Koreas in two years, the joint team will wear unity jerseys and march under a unified peninsula…... [read more]
Olympics PARIS — Six Russian ice hockey players have been disqualified from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics for doping, meaning their country has also been removed from official results. Inna Dyubanok, Ekaterina Lebedeva, Ekaterina Pashkevich, Anna Shibanova, Ekaterina Smolentseva and Galina Skiba were all found to have committed doping violations by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following re-analysis of samples taken from the Sochi Games. Proceedings against a seventh, unnamed, player were terminated and filed without her being found to have committed an anti-doping offence. The six players have been "disqualified from the events in which they participated", the IOC…... [read more]
(VOVworld) - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has called for an end to confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and improved inter-Korean ties. On Monday the official news agency KCNA cited a four-point DPRK proposal clarifying its stance on easing tensions on the peninsula and achieving "independent reunification" of the nation. The DPRK government called for an end to reckless hostility and confrontation and the blazing of a road to reconciliation and unity. It urged both sides to reject dependence on "outsiders" and settle all issues through their own efforts. The government also suggested that both sides seek "reasonable…... [read more]
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in cooperation with Qatar's Aspire Academy have launched the Football Dreams programme to select three youths gifted in football for a training course in Qatar. Football Dreams, one of the biggest football talents selecting programmes worldwide, will be held in Vietnam for the first time. Young boys who were born in 1995 and before can register to take part in the contest. Experts in football including Mr. Pere Gratacos, Director of the LamasiaAcademy and former coach of the Barcelona young team, are among the members of the jury board. The selecting lasts from now till…... [read more]
Viet Nam calls for more EU support in education, training (08-12-2007) Top performing students in the university entrance exam attend an awards' ceremony held by Ho Chi Minh Youth Union.—VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Tran HA NOI — Viet Nam expected the European Union's to continue its help with education and training, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Education and Training Minister, was greeting the EuropeAid Co-operation Office Director General Koos Richelle. The European Union's support, especially in education, was much appreciated, he said. But Viet Nam needed international support to ensure high-quality…... [read more]
