South Korea declared its readiness for myriad challenges at the upcoming Paris Olympics, as France-bound Olympians gathered for the traditional ceremony to launch the delegation in Seoul on Tuesday.

The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) held the team launch ceremony at Olympic Park in Seoul, with hundreds of athletes on hand, with the opening ceremony of the 33rd Summer Olympics 17 days away.

South Korea will send 144 athletes to compete in 22 of the 32 sports in and around the French capital. It will be the country’s smallest delegation for a Summer Olympics since 1976, when South Korea had 50 athletes in Montreal. South Korea didn’t qualify in many of the team events, including men’s and women’s football, men’s and women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball.

The KSOC has also set a modest target of winning five gold medals, which would be the fewest since the country grabbed one gold in Montreal.

KSOC President Lee Kee-heung said the Paris Olympics will be “a momentous occasion” for
the South Korean delegation.

“These Olympic Games will bring a fresh set of challenges to our elite sports,” Lee said. “There will be a lot of difficulties, such as hot and humid conditions, food and possible officiating controversies. But our athletes have worked for a long time to get to this point, and I hope they can all compete to the best of their abilities and realize their goals.”

Jeong Gang-sun, chef de mission for South Korea in Paris, said ensuring the health and safety of the athletes will be the most important part of his job.

“I hope our athletes will represent the country with a sense of pride and carry themselves with dignity away from the field of play as well,” Jeong said. “They will try to give our people something to celebrate.”

Representing the government, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said he was proud of Olympic athletes, and he and the rest of the country will be cheering for them this summer.

“The government will spare no effort in providing support for our delegation,” Han said. ”
In the past Olympic Games, our athletes demonstrated the strength of this country with their outstanding performances and mental fortitude. They gave us hope and instilled confidence in us during difficult times. And the stories they will create in Paris will resonate with the rest of the world.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency