INCHEON - South Korea's primary group for the upcoming Paris Olympics departed from Incheon International Airport on Saturday, embarking on their journey to the French capital with high hopes for achieving notable success in the global sports competition.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the delegation included 40 athletes and 18 officials, part of a broader team comprising 143 athletes across 21 sports, alongside 117 officials. The KSOC President Lee Kee-heung expressed a mixture of excitement and concern at the airport, citing challenging weather conditions and other environmental factors in Paris as potential obstacles. However, Lee remained optimistic about the athletes' performances, bolstered by strong public support from back home. The committee has set a goal of securing five gold medals, aiming to place around 15th in the overall medal standings, which would mark South Korea's smallest gold medal haul since the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
The delegation's send-off was a display of solidarity, with athletes like fencer Gu Bon-gil, who will carry the national flag, highlighting the team's determination. Gu, aiming for his third consecutive Olympic gold in men's team sabre, shared his personal ambitions for the Games, including his desire to secure an individual medal in what will be his final Olympic appearance.
Adding to the team's prospects, table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, participating in her second Olympics, is set to compete in women's singles, team, and mixed doubles events. With her experience and recent international successes, including a women's doubles gold medal, Shin is hopeful about her chances across all her events.
The smaller size of this year's delegation compared to previous Olympics reflects a strategic focus, with KSOC highlighting quality over quantity in their quest for medals.