(ATR) Ban Ki Moon tells Around the Rings that hosting the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics will have a lasting impact on South Korea.
"It’s going to be a landmark moment for the Korean people," Ban tells ATR in an exclusive interview on the latest edition of ATRadio from Seoul. "In fact, it is particularly meaningful and encouraging when the situation on the Korean peninsula has been one of the top global concerns."
The former secretary general of the United Nations adds that the meaningful joint proposals between North and South Korea including marching under the unification flag at the Feb. 9 Opening Ceremony can help fuel greater dialogue surrounding the re-unification of the countries.
"Now that both North and South Korea have agreed to march together in one team and we have organized a joint team in women’s ice hockey, this will provide – even if it’s a small opening – a good window for the conversations between the North and South and the Korean people.
"I hope that this winter will lead to a bigger, larger and more meaningful dialogue for unification and denuclearization for the Korean peninsula."
Ban now serves as the ethics commission chairman for the International Olympic Committee. He says much work remains to be done to instill trust in the Olympic Movement and international sport as a whole.
"We are now living in a world of idealism, and nothing is ideal or perfect particularly when it comes to accountability and transparency of any organization," he says. "It’s important that the Olympic Movement should be carried out in fair, objective, transparent and accountable manner."
Listen to the full conversation between Ban, ATR Editor Ed Hula and ATR Reporter Aaron Bauer below:
Written by Kevin Nutley
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