North Korea has been banned from the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because the country refused to send a team to the Tokyo Games alleging pandemic concerns.
“They violated the Olympic Charter and did not fulfill their obligation, as stated in the Olympic Charter, to participate,” International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday, explaining the punishment.
But according to Bach, individual athletes in the country who qualify for the Winter Games may continue to compete pending a different decision.
In April, North Korea announced the withdrawal of its team from the Tokyo Olympics. At the time, the Hermit Kingdom said it had to protect its athletes from the “global public health crisis caused by COVID-19.”
North Korea’s suspension lasts until 2022, but could potentially be extended, Bach said.
Ten North Korean competitors were sent to the 2018 Winter Games and none participated in 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
In 2010, North Korea sent two athletes to Vancouver.
With publishing cables
