Saturday 17th July 2021
Trouble in the Olympic Village
South Korea Must Remove Anti-Japan Banners
There was a Japanese invasion of the Korean peninsula in the 16th century – and that is what banners refer to on the South Korean quarter in the Olympic Village. The IOC steps in, the posters have to be removed. There is also an edition for Japan.
At the behest of the IOC, the South Korean delegation in the Olympic Village of the Summer Games in Tokyo removed anti-Japanese banners from their accommodations. On the banners was the slogan: “I still have the support of 50 million Koreans.” This refers to the time of the Japanese invasion of the Korean peninsula from 1592 to 1598.
South Korea and Japan continue to have a tense relationship. The current issue is Japan’s claim to the Liancourt Rocks in the Sea of Japan, which South Korea counts as its territory.
The International Olympic Committee has allowed the Games in the Japanese capital to begin next Friday by relaxing the controversial rule of 50 protests or expressions of political opinion, but by no means everywhere. Expressions of opinion are expressly forbidden at official ceremonies, such as award ceremonies or at the opening and closing ceremonies, on the playing field and in the Olympic Village.
In conversations with the media, at press conferences, in the mixed zone, at team meetings, on social media channels or before the start of a competition, however, the active participants are allowed to express their views, provided that these are “in accordance with the basic principles of the Olympic Movement, not directly or are indirectly directed against persons, countries, organizations and / or their dignity and are not disruptive “.
At the same time, Japan will not be allowed to display a flag with a rising sun and 16 rays in Olympic arenas. This symbol is seen and rejected in many Asian countries as a symbol of Japan’s warlike past.
South Korea and Japan have been rivals for centuries and have been involved in wars several times. Recently, the relationships had cooled down significantly again. It is still unclear whether South Korea’s Prime Minister Moon Jae-in will travel to Tokyo for the opening ceremony and meet with Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the sidelines.
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