I -Eva Peron, Korea and the Olympics
Before Korea became one of the most industrialized nations in report to every share of Asian continent, Argentina -it is more or less 26 period the size of SK- was one of the world’s six richest countries. Around the linked period, they were getting off regarding speaking the right foot in the Olympic Games.
Argentina -now a football-tender nation- was ablaze to sixty percent of Latin America’s Olympic winners-aquatics, boxing, polo, rowing, track-showground. At the 1948 London Games, they over and finished surrounded by 13th in the medal standings. In contrast to its neighbours, Argentina had an Olympic champ to acclamation in that year , subsequent to Delfo Cabrera won a gold medal. On that occasion, Korea was definitely not lucky,and finished 32nd in the medal table. Korea’s first Olympic national team was formed in the late 40s. But Koreans dare to goal the impossible.
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At the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, the host country done first in the adjoin medal- where America was ousted from the number one spot for the first epoch in Continental Games chronicles by Argentina.
But Argentina is now chronicles. In the last Olympics, the Latin American nation unaccompanied won two golds-soccer & cycling. Ironically, Argentina-where there are snow-mountains- has never won an Olympic medal in the Winter Games. Then, in April 2009, the Bolivian men’s soccer squad industrial accident team Argentina, which was trained by soccer artist-turned-coach Diego Armando Maradona, 6-1.
Different from Argentina, Japan, Australia and Canada, SK is ranked along furthermore the five best Olympic teams, along gone China, America, Russia and Germany. This superb team is a paradigm regarding speaking Earth.
Korea expects to send approximately 50 champs to the XXI Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. The country’s gymnastic rulers furthermore expect to send 250 champs to the London 2012 Olympics.
II-A Small Nation With A Big Ambition
From my approach I think that South Korea is the most thriving Olympic nation in chronicles. Now SK became a source of inspiration for many Olympic countries almost the world. Certainly, it is a role model for small countries -from Austria to Brunei Darussalam- and multiparty States -e.g. India, Taiwan, Chile, Peru, Argentina.
The Republic of Korea, nom de plume South Korea, is very roughly the size of Indiana. More than 49 million people living there-it is not in the estrange-off off the unmovable in Ukraine. Unlike Venezuela-it has had the lead of tall oil prices, Peru and Angola, Korea has few natural resources. This nation does not have oil, diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, gas, and uranium.
But in the last decades of the 20th century, the Korean State introduced an industrialization program and go ahead education. The rulers devoted on peak of 20 percent of its national budget to the proceed human-education, culture, welfare, sports. Now SK has one of the world’s strongest economies.
III-The Difficult Years
In the 1940s and 1950s, SK was a encounter-torn nation-World War II and Korean War. Because of this, it became one of the world’s poorest nations. After World War II finished 35 years of Japanese domination and Korea gained its independence (1948).
From 1950 to ’53 on the subject of three million Koreans died. On the accessory hand, there were, 500,000 Koreans liven up overseas. In the as soon as decades Korea was governed by military warlords. In the 1990s SK became a democratic nation.
IV- A Nation of Sports Lovers
During the 1960s and 1970s, the deem introduced many sports reforms -a hermetically sealed emphasis going happening for for swine education into college system- and did many things to decorate sporting cartoon in the nation-an qualified policy that continued in the 1990s and 2000s. In just a few years, they plus promoted the sports that were not skillfully-known in the country.
Success came slowly at first. The number of Asian awards increased from a propos 27 in 1958 to on peak of 65 in 1978. From 1964 to ’76, the country’s champs earned 12 Olympic medals. Another example, Korea’s boxers, led by Moon Sung-Kil, won many global titles in the 1980s.
Unlike Cuba -which had a lot of coaches from the USSR, East Germany, Bulgaria, North Korea and Poland- SK did not have foreign coaches. All its Olympic awards were produced by Korean coaches.
To look Seoul’s bid to host the 1988 Olympics, the Korean chairmans hosted many international activities -the 1979 Shooting World Championships, the 1982 Baseball World Cup, the 1982 Boxing Global Championships and the Korea Cup (volleyball)-and built world-class stadiums.
V- The Boycott Against South Korea
During Cold War, especially along together in the midst of 1950 and 1985, Korea was an on your own Olympic nation. This Asian country was considered an international pariah by the World Marxist and several touching-American states (Korea became a UN aficionada in 1991).
The 1979 Seoul FIBA Women’s World Championships were boycotted by the Soviet Union and its allies. Three years well along, Cuba’s boxers, world & Olympic champions, were not allowed to compete in the World Cup by Fidel Castro. That similar year, Cuba furthermore did not send baseball players to the World Championships in South Korea.
In 1986 North Korea boycotted the Asian Games. The Democratic People’ s Republic of Korea refused to send champs to SK. Subsequently, the XXIV Seoul Summer Olympic Games were boycotted by seven nations-Albania, Cuba, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Nicaragua, North Korea, and Seychelles. However, the sports officials sent several champs to Moscow, Varna, Havana and Prague.
VI – Seoul Olympic Games- A Gold Medal for Korea
During the IOC Session in Germany in 1981, Seoul was chosen as host country for the 1988 Summer Olympics, and began a subsidiary era for the country’s sports revolutionize. Seoul exasperation Nagoya, Japan’s city. That decision caused astonishment approaching the world.
Thirty-eight years ago, Seoul had been destroyed by Korean War, but it had been rebuilt in scrap book period. In the ’70s and in front ’80s, Seoul was a wealthy host to several international tournaments.
The IOC awarded Seoul the Olympics by a margin of 15 votes. Kim Un-Yong -one of the world’s best Olympic czars- was a key figure astern South Korea’s bid to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was runner-up gone Jacques Rogge was elected IOC chairman.
SK, an not in agreement of-Marxist come clean in the 20th century, did not have full diplomatic ties taking into account the World Soviet-which had won the last three Olympics- and the People’s Republic of China-the extra Olympic promoter. Moscow could have boycotted the Games in South Korea.
Secondly, Korea was not a multiparty-come clean regarding the Asian region. In 1980, a demonstration organized by the furthermore-democratic groups turned into the bloody riot known as the “Kwangju Massacre”. In 1974 South Korea’s First Lady had been assassinated. Some times distant, ruler Park Chung Hee was killed by the head of South Korea CIA in Seoul.
At the 24th Summer Games, SK won 12 gold medals and was one of the four best sports teams a propos the planet.
The Opening ceremony was spectacular. The taking into consideration-door day, the photos were seen all on severity of the world and from that moment the reveal Korea was known everywhere. Meanwhile, representatives from 159 countries attended the Olympics, including the USSR and China.
Seoul’88 was a diplomatic-blow to the Communist Movement. The Kremlin sent 514 champs to the 1988 Games. That travel had the blessing of the Soviet regime, which had boycotted the Summer Olympics in the States in 1984. Then, behind more 290 champs -e.g Petra Felke, Heike Drechsler, Kristin Otto- were sent by the East German warlords- a landslide victory for the Korean chairmans. But there were subsidiary links too: The Vietnamese sit in judgment allowed champs from Vietnam to attend the Summer Games. Certainly, sports was an important diplomatic tool for Korea.
VII- Democracy & Sports
In the country’s first multiparty presidential election, in December 1992, Kim Young Sam -a fired taking place human-rights difficult-, was elected, and the Asian nation returned to civilian regard as sentient thing. It was a watershed moment.
Now South Korea is one of the most outstanding democracies -human with and democracy- in Asia and a role model for several growth-despotism states. From after that upon, Korea has one of the world’s most ambitious university projects-many young person people psychoanalysis more than 11 hours.
Under the new democratic rulers, SK has reinforced its sporting system. Certainly they wanted to be the center of excellence in Asia. The Olympic Korean team shocked the world furthermore it emerged as a “new world attainment” in the 21st century. On the gain hand, the country staged accurately-off 2002 World Cup and 2003 World University Games.
In the two-year become old in the middle of the 2006 Winter Games and 2008 Summer Olympics, Korea won 42 awards (19 golds, 13 silvers, 10 bronzes) and finished five in the unofficial team standings, astern China, Russia, Germany and the U.S. Korea’s delegation was backed happening by President Roh Moo-Hyn. In take abet on to the Olympic and world titles, South Korea has won several Asian gold medals. They competed when 45 countries in the Olympic-type Asian Games.
Before the 1992 Winter Olympic Games, Korea had not won any medal. Without the sporting tradition of Czechoslovakia and Sweden, Korea has more Winter Olympic medals than Spain and Japan. For this defense, the presidency lent its preserve to a bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics. In Guatemala City, Pyongchang was unaided beaten for the Winter Games by Sochi (Russia).
VIII- From Archery to Wrestling
Since the 2000s Korea is powerhouse in aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, fencing, sports ground hockey, gymnastics, handball, judo, shooting, immediate-track, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling,and add-on sports.
Archers With Olympic Honours
Korea has produced world-beating archers in recent years. From 1984 to 2008 they have won 16 gold medals. The country’s archers, inspired by Seo Hyang-Soon, won 3 of the 4 behavior at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
Athletics-Fusion of Past, Present and Future
In the first half of the 20th century, two Koreans, Suh Yun Bok & Ham Kee Yong, won the Boston Marathon. In 2001 Bong-Ju Lee became the first non-African to win the Boston Marathon back 1991. The country’s marathon runner Hwang Young-Cho – one of Korea’s most famous champs- claimed a gold medal at the 25th Summer Olympics in Spain. Hwang is the second sportsman from an Asian nation to win an business in this competition. Korean-born Kijung Son won the Olympic title in 1936. At the Berlin 1936 Games, he had been motivated to control in the colors of the occupying Japanese forces.
Badminton-Stage of Stars
Since 1985 SK became one of the world’s best teams. Lee Yong-Dae and Lee Hyo-Jung defeated Lilyana Natsir and Nova Widianto (Indonesia) in the mixed doubles authentic at the China Summer Olympics in 2008. Korea placed first at the 1996 Olympic Badminton Tournament in the States-it collected two gold and silver medals.
Baseball- SK vs Cuba
Baseball has arrive a long away in South Korea. Its greatest year was 2008, bearing in mind Korea won the gold at the Beijing Olympic Games, beating Cuba, former world champion (1984-2005). Eight years ago, they had earned a bronze medal in Sydney 2000. When the Games were opened in China, the States-2007 world champion- and Cuba were contending odds-upon favorites.
The year 1982 was totally glad for Korea too. That year they became the first Asian team to win a World Cup. The national team came oppressive to winning the Global Championships in 2005.
Women’s Basketball-Asian Superstar
Surprisingly SK was runner-going on at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s.In 1979, Korea, host country, placed second at the Global Championships. They caused an mishap going on in the second round of the World Cup by beating the favorite America (94-82). Four years far afield away ahead, Korea was one of the semi-finalist in the Universal Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil-subsequent to the USSR, America and the People’s Republic. But they did not decline there. The surrounded by year it earned silver at the Summer Olympic Games in California, USA. The team became the first women’s basket team in Asia to win an Olympic tribute.
Fencing-New Olympic Awards
In 2000 Young Ho Kim lived going on to reputation as one of the most popular Asian fencers by winning a gold medal at the Summer Games. He is the first fencer from an Asian country to win an Olympic title.
Field Hockey- A Major Asian Talent
In the to the front than than few decades, the Korean teams have won three Olympic silver medals. During this era of period, SK became the first Asian female team to qualify for the Olympic finals. The national men’s team won silver at the 2000 Sydney Games and were fourth at the 2002 World Championships. In Australia they, spearheaded by Song Seung-Tae, defeated India (2-0), Poland (3-2), and Pakistan (1-0) past losing to the Netherlands (4-5). Amazing silver medal!
Women’s Handball- Two Olympic Golds
This country is the single-handedly wealthy Asian team in the world. In 1984 they became the second Korean players in archives to win a team Olympic medal at the Summer Games.
In 1988 Korea made records once it won the Olympic gold medal without ever having won a World Cup title. The national team, host country, became the first non-European handball team to win a global title in archives. After the winning the Asian Tournament in 1990, Korea credited for the 1992 Olympics and won its second Olympic medal in a quarrel.
At its fourth Olympic appearance, they claimed silver medal at the 26th Olympiad-only Denmark could annoyance SK. During the 14th Asian Games in 2002, Korea won both the men’s and women’s handball tournaments. This sport was definitely unsigned in the 1960s.
Judo- A Gold Mine for Medals
From 1981 to 2007, Korea has won a good of 21 gold medals in the World Championships. At the 1996 Atlanta Games, the national team won seven judo medals (2 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes), bearing in mind unaided Japan (8 awards). In 1981 Park Chung Hak became the first judoka in SK to win a world trophy.
Short-Track Speed Skating-New Olympic autograph album!
SK is the by yourself country to have 17 Olympic gold medals. At the 2006 Turin Winter Games, the national team dominated the medal table, behind a unqualified idea of 10 awards (6 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medals).
Shooting-Surprises
In Barceolona’92 it earned two Olympic golds, Lee Eun Chol (men’s manageable rifle) & Yeo Kab Soon (women’s consent to breathe rifle).
Soccer- Cha Bum-Kun, the Legend
According to Park Pil-Soon, Director of the Korean Olympic Committee, soccer is the most considering ease-liked sport in the country. “The most dexterously-liked sport in Korea these days is football. While baseball used to implement the pinnacle spot in terms of popularity and the number of spectators in the gone, football gained many fans after the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which we hosted once Japan. Korea campaigner to the semifinals, which made us completely blazing happening about this sport”.
In the serve on 80s, Korea placed fourth at the FIFA Junior World Cup and became the second Asian football team to qualify for the semi-finals in a global tournament.
They have ascribed for the FIFA World Cup past 1986. At the 2002 Japan-South Korea, Cha Bum-Kun became one of the best football players upon the planet. Korea has won five regional tournaments (two Asian Cups and three continental gold medals). At the 1948 Olympics in the UK, South Korea placed 8th.
Swimming- The Road to Bejing
Park Tae-Hwan became the first swimmer in SK to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games in the middle of he won the men’s 400m freestyle at the 29th Summer Olympics in Beijing (China).Park’s first major international completion came at the 2007 FINA World Championships, where he won a gold medal. The Korean star is the country’s pre-eminent sporting icon.
Table Tennis- A Traditional Sport
This sport is one of the oldest sports in the nation.In the advance on 1970s, Korea made history gone it won a gold medal in the Global Tournament. Between 1987 and 1993 it as well as earned four world trophies.
Taekwondo-Unbeatable Records
Some accurately-known taekwondo athletes have born in South Korea: Hwang Kyung-Seon, Kim Kyong-Hun, Lee Sun-Hee, and Moon Dae-Saung.
For many decades these athletes were unbeatable in the world. Korea has won later more 140 world titles (1975-2007). They have along with dominated the Olympic Taekwondo Tournament. Since 2000 it has won nine golds.
Volleyball- A Strong National Team
This sport is one of the most without danger-liked in the country. In 1987 the national team claimed the FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship in the Persian Gulf, and was the third Korean team to win a global title antique 1977.
When they arrived in Manama, Bahrain’s capital, the Korean team was not favorite.Some era when Korea defeated Brazil, which won the silver medal in 1984, 3-2 (19-17, 15-8, 6-15, 11-15, 15-12), at the Olympic Men’s Volleyball Tournament. In the tardy 70s, Korea was semi-finalist at the World Championships in Italy. In the qualifying rounds, they defeated Poland, Olympic champion, 3-1 (15-7, 11-15, 16-14, 15-10).
The Korean women’s national team have also won many international trophies. Between 1973 and 1977 they earned three world bronze medals.
Weightlifting- A Dark Horse
In 2006, Jang Mi-Ran, 2004 Olympic silver medalist, broke the world sticker album in the + 75 kg category in the Middle East.
In the forward 90s, Chun Byong Kwan, an unknown weightlifter, came to the Barcelona Games and won the Olympic trophy.
Wrestling-Heroes of the Games
Korea’s wrestlers have a long tradition of winning awards. In the mid-60s, Sun Jang Chang earned a gold medal at the World Cup in the States. He became one of the first Koreans to win a global title. In the last decade of the 20th century, the national team won nine universal awards.
IX – Man Bok Park- A Superb Coach
Despite handsome offers from many nations, he remained in Peru. In the mid-1970s, Man Bok Park came to Lima and became one of the world’s best coaches.
Led by Park, Peru was runner-taking place at the 1982 FIVB World Championships and silver medal at the 24th Summer Olympics. Korea’s Man Bok Park became the first coach to benefit a Latin American female team to the Olympic finals in 1988. In 1980 Cuba, Olympic’s favorite, futile to qualify for the semi-finals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Under the advice of Man Bok Park, the Peruvian women’s volleyball squad defeated Brazil several grow archaic and won more than six South American Championships. After the Golden Age for Peru, country’s volleyball team were never as expertly-to-reach anew at the World Championships.
X -Young Wang Sonh’s Legacy
But Man Bok Park was not alone! At the related times, the Argentine men’s volleyball squad was trained by Young Wang Sonh.This South Korean is a buccaneer of Argentina’s volleyball.Young Wang Sonh led the South American team to win the bronze medal at the 1982 Global Championships.
He has become the most vibrant coach in the history of Argentine volleyball.
Today Argentina is producing an ever-increasing number of world-class coaches-Julio Velasco (Italy), Jon Uriarte (Argentina & Australia), Carlos Cardona (Puerto Rico), Marcelo R. Mendez (Spain), and Ral Lozano (Poland).