{"id":57508,"date":"2018-01-27T06:27:38","date_gmt":"2018-01-27T06:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=57508"},"modified":"2018-01-27T06:27:38","modified_gmt":"2018-01-27T06:27:38","slug":"south-korea-skating-chief-apologizes-incidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/south-korea-skating-chief-apologizes-incidents.html","title":{"rendered":"South Korea skating chief apologizes for incidents"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Korea skating chief apologizes for incidents<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Korea\u2019s skating union has apologized for souring the mood ahead of February\u2019s Winter Games after a coach was banned for life for striking a short track athlete and a speed skater almost lost her spot at the Olympics due to an administrative error.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kim Sang-hang, president of the Korea Skating Union (KSU), said in a statement that it would take steps to avoid further problems as South Korea prepares to host next month\u2019s Olympics in Pyeongchang.<\/span><\/p>\n

The incidents sparked a huge backlash in Korea, with almost 200 online petitions calling for the KSU to be reformed or disbanded were lodged with the presidential Blue House.<\/span><\/p>\n

The KSU has seen more than its fair share of controversy over the years, with allegations of favoritism and athlete mistreatment prompting the government to order a review of the governing body after the Sochi Olympics in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI sincerely apologize for the issues regarding the national skating team ahead of the Winter Olympics,\u201d Kim said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe promise there will be no repeat of these problems and will come up with reform measures and implement them as soon as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The KSU handed out a lifetime ban to the coach of Shim Suk-hee on Thursday after he admitted to physically assaulting the 20-year-old, who won gold, silver and bronze medals in Sochi.<\/span><\/p>\n

Public anger with the KSU grew when it emerged speed skater Noh Seon-yeong was told only last week that she would be unable to compete in the team pursuit in Pyeongchang because she had not been able to earn a spot in an individual event.<\/span><\/p>\n

The KSU was criticized for failing to give Noh the chance to qualify but it blamed the oversight on miscommunication with the International Skating Union.<\/span><\/p>\n

Noh, who had been hoping to win gold to honor her late brother, former short track world champion Jing-kyu, who died of bone cancer in 2016, was surprisingly reinstated on Friday after two Russians who had qualified were dropped from the final list.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Noh\u2019s participation at the Feb. 9-25 Games remains in doubt after she lashed out in local media, accusing the KSU of favoritism and saying she no longer wanted to be part of the national team.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI apologize to Noh Seon-yeong for our failure to ensure she knew the relevant regulations, which caused the athlete so much pain and affected her preparations for the Olympics,\u201d said Kim.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFortunately she gained an Olympic berth from the ISU … and we will do our best to support her in the buildup to the Games.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-olympics-2018-skat-korea\/olympics-south-korea-skating-chief-apologizes-for-incidents-idUSKBN1FG04L<\/span><\/p>\n

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