President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said at the opening of the biggest Asian sporting event that all the nations in Asia sought to show kinship between their countries. "We are united to achieve success," he remarked.
Divided so far, South Korea and North Korea, which have pledged to unify families for economic benefits and peace, supported each other in the current Asian Games, and in some events, even united as one team.
"We made history today because South and North Korea have united as one team to compete in the Asian Games 2018," Chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah said in his speech at the 18th Asian Games opening ceremony at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday, August 18.
High officials of the two Koreas also harmoniously stood together to support their joint team in the matches.
In a match between the Indian team and the joint Korean team in the qualifying round of the 2018 Asian Games` Women`s Basketball Group X in the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall, Senayan Jakarta, Monday, August 20, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon and North Korean Minister of Sports Kim Il-guk watched the game together.
South Korean basketball player Kim Han-byul showed her support toward the joint Korea team at the Asian Games 2018, stating that at this point, there was no North or South dichotomy, especially when they were competing as one team on the field.
"We are wearing the same uniform and we are part of the same team," she said.
She reiterated that it did not matter which part of Korea they were from, as they were all united as a team, representing Korea as a whole and playing for the same team.
Women`s basketball is one of the three sports branches in which the Korean contingent is participating, aside from dragon boat racing and rowing.
Han-byul made the statement after her team beat India 104-54 in the advanced match of the qualifying round of the 2018 Asian Games Women`s Basketball Group X in the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall, Senayan Jakarta, Monday, August 20.
Al-Sabah praised the 18th Asian Games 2018 that opened in Jakarta on Saturday, saying that it was historic, as it had united the two countries of the Korean Peninsula.
At the ceremony, athletes from South Korea and North Korea paraded under one flag, which is "Korea". Tens of athlete representatives from the two countries were seen wearing the white and light blue uniform, which is a combination of colors found on the Korea Unification Flag.
At the opening ceremony, the Korea Unification flag was seen flying, while athletes from the two countries walked into the arena waving.
As they were entering the Gelora Bung Karno stadium, the South Korean ambassador to Indonesia, Kim Chang-beom, and North Korea ambassador An Kwang-il were seen standing hand-in-hand and waving to their athletes.
The South and North Korean joint team at the Asian Games 2018 proved their commitment to increase cooperation in the field of sports after leaders of the two countries met in May.
In order to further support Korean athletes, South Korean Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong Hwan will witness the competition of the United Korean Team in the rowing and canoeing regatta course of the Asian Games in Jakabaring, Palembang, on Wednesday.
Hwan has arrived in Palembang, according to Yasser Arafat, a member of the organizing committee for the transportation service for VVIP guests.
According to Arafat, Hwan is accompanied by Lee Ki Heong of the Korean National Olympic Committee (KOC).
Based on his schedule, Hwan would watch the match of the mixed team trap category of the shooting event at the Jakabaring Shooting Range on Tuesday, and watch a women`s soccer match between the South Korean Team and the Indonesian National Team at the Jakabaring Sriwijaya Stadium on Tuesday night.
"The presence of the South Korean Minister is not only meant to offer moral support to his team, but also to the United Korea Team," said Arafat.
At the Asian Games this time, there were three sports followed by the United Korea Team: rowing, canoeing and women`s basketball.
Previously, at the opening of the 2018 Asian Games at the Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday, there was a historic moment for the Korean nation because the South Korean and North Korean contingents paraded in a group carrying a United Korea flag.
The moment is expected to restore relations between the two countries that have been in conflict for more than 70 years.
Palembang, as the second city to host the Asian Games in Indonesia, has the chance to witness firsthand the unification of the two Koreas in the sporting event, thanks to the fact that Palembang will host the Asian Games` rowing match.
Edited by Suharto
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
