North and South Korea are in dispute over national anthems and flags in advance of a rare soccer match in Pyongyang next month, a report said yesterday.
The two sides will meet in the North's capital on March 26 in a regional qualifier for the 2010 World Cup finals.
It will be the first time the national teams have played each other in Pyongyang since a friendly was staged in 1990 to symbolize hopes for reunification.
But the North at a preparatory meeting last Tuesday refused to let South Korea display its flag and play its national anthem at the match, the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper said.
"We were not able to communicate at all because the North Koreans said they cannot play the South Korean anthem and hang the national flag, even though it is not a friendly match but an official match hosted by FIFA," the newspaper quoted Cho Jung-yeon, vice president of the Korea Football Association, as saying.
"The North Koreans said that they have never seen the South Korean flag hung up in the sky and heard the national anthem played on their soil in history, so they said they could never allow them," Cho said. "But I said it is nonsense to use the Korean Peninsula Flag and Arirang instead, in a country-to-country match."
North and South Korea marched together under the "unification" peninsula flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony in Doha last December, where the traditional "Arirang" song was performed.
"We made it clear that we should use the national flag and anthem. Now the ball is in North Korea's court," Cho said. "If we cannot reach an agreement, we cannot exclude the possibility of playing in a third country."
The communist North and capitalist South have remained technically at war since the end of the 1950-1953 Korean conflict and neither nation officially recognizes the other's existence.
South Korea beat Turkmenistan 4-0 in their latest Asian qualifier last week, while North Korea defeated Jordan 1-0.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely