Two Koreas arrive in Paris for 2024 Olympic Games — in pictures

Social Affairs

Published: 21 Jul. 2024, 17:41

Two Koreas arrive in Paris for 2024 Olympic Games — in pictures

Fencer Gu Bon-gil, center, an Olympic gold medalist, carries the national flag, Taegeukgi, as the South Korean main delegation for the Paris Olympics arrives at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday, ahead of the Summer Games. [YONHAP]

South Korea's main delegation for the 2024 Paris Olympics arrived in France on Saturday evening.

The South Korean delegation will be represented by 143 athletes in 21 out of 32 sports, along with 117 sports officials. This marks the smallest Summer Olympics delegation since the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Fencer Gu Bon-gil, an Olympic gold medalist, waves the national flag, Taegeukgi, as the South Korean main delegation for the Paris Olympics arrives at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday, ahead of the Summer Games. [YONHAP]

The opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics is scheduled for Friday.

South Korean fencer Gu Bon-gil, a two-time Olympic medalist, arrived with the delegation at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport carrying the national flag, Taegeukgi, to lead the South Korean main delegation, comprised of some 40 athletes, joined by sports officials, on Saturday night.

Gu is a two-time Olympic champion in the men's sabre fencing category.

Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin arrives with the South Korean main delegation for the Paris Olympics at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday. [NEWS1]

The South Korean main delegation for the Paris Olympics passes the baggage claim area at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday evening, ahead of the Summer Games. [NEWS1]

Some athletes had already arrived in Paris earlier in the week to begin training.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) said it is eyeing winning a modest five gold medals at the upcoming Summer Games, which runs from July 26 to Aug. 11.

This would be the lowest medal count since 1976. South Korea won six gold medals during the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, when it ranked 16th overall.

North Korean athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

North Korea's Olympic team delegation, comprised of some 16 athletes, were also spotted arriving in Paris Saturday.

North Korea is set to take part in the Summer Games for the first time in eight years.

A member of the North Korean delegation for the 2024 Paris Olympics holds up his hand at reporters as he arrives at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

North Korean athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics wave from a bus as they depart from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Saturday. [NEWS1]

Joining international policing efforts during the Paris Olympics, 31 South Korean police officers joined a 2,000-strong force drawn from 40 countries to supplement the Police Nationale during the Olympics and Paralympics, which run until Sept. 8.

South Korean, Brazilian and French police officers patrol the streets of Paris on Thursday as part of a joint international operation to support the 2024 Paris Olympics. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) President Lee Kee-heung, center, and members of South Korea's Olympic delegation pose for a photo ahead of their departure from Incheon International Airport on Saturday to head to France for the Paris Olympics. [YONHAP]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]