“DPRK
Targets 2004 Olympics, Young Athletes Are Promising”
Interview
with Official of Cabinet’s Sports Guidance Committee
Chairman Jong Yun Ryol
Highlighted
by world-famous judoist Kye Sun Hwi’s victory in the World Judo Championships
and its women’s soccer team’s winning of the Asian football championship,
athletes of the DPRK produced splendid achievements in the world sports scenes
last year.
Now
the Cabinet’s Physical and Sports Guidance Committee takes every measure to
obtain brilliant results on the international stage, taking orders from General
Secretary Kim Jong Il to make the country a “sports power.”
The
People’s Korea interviewed Vice Chairman Jong Yun Ryol of the League of Sports
of the Cabinet’s Physical and Sports Guidance Committee. Follows an English
translation of an interview with him. (Original in Korean— Ed.)
Q:
What is the cause of the recent achievements of DPRK athletes in the world of
sports?
The
DPRK national team did not show sufficient results in the 27th Olympics in
Sydney in 2000. We scientifically analyzed every problem raised in the whole
process of training and in real games, learning lessons from the previous
Olympic Games. Computers so much help our analysis.
Development of the mental power of athletes must have been the biggest factor for their recent achievements.
The DPRK women's soccer team discussing game tactics
As
for the Asian Women’s Football Championships held in Taipei last December, the
DPRK team was not outstanding in ability among participating countries. But we
won the Asian football championship. I think that the team won this victory
because the team members were united as one with the spirit that victory would
contribute to the fatherland and their victory would please Kim Jong Il.
We
target the next Olympics in 2004. Athletes, coaches and officials of each event
are putting spurs on their preparations for the next Olympics. Qualification
competitions will be held next year. We have only a year to train ourselves.
Cho Song Ok, a 2001 AFC MVP winner
Q:
Remarkable results have been achieved by DPRK women athletes in the world’s
sports scenes.
Woman
athletes of the DPRK are equipped with high perseverance. They persistently
tackle severe training menus of the same level as that of men given by a coach.
Men
and women are often trained together. Male athletes heartily assist women
athletes to raise the level of their ability. I think that their level will get
higher. Joint training of men and women spurs men’s athletes on to greater
efforts. They said if they are defeated by women, it is really shameful.
Q:
Recently, a lot of domestic sports competitions have been held in the DPRK.
There
are several traditional sports tournaments and championships in the DPRK.
Mangyongdae Cup (April), Mt. Paekdu Cup (February), DPRK Cup (September,
October), Osandok Cup (December) and other sports events are given regularly,
participated in by first-class teams (there are 12 teams in the DPRK),
second-class teams (14), third-class team (24) and squads affiliated with
factories and enterprises. New Asian records and new world records are
established sometimes in these events. While domestic athletic meets are getting
active, the skills and strengths of national teams in each event rise to higher
levels.
We
have great expectations that we will produce medal-winners in international
competitions. Wrestling, judo, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, gymnastics,
marathon, diving, archery, soccer and handball events are promising.
The
prospects of women athletes’ winning medals are good. I also place my
expectation on men’s events, as promising young athletes are growing up in the
DPRK.
Women’s
soccer—
most
promising event
Putting
an end to China’s seemingly unbreakable supremacy in winning the championship
of Asian women’s football, the DPRK football team was crowned as a new queen
of Asian women’s football in the 13th Asian Women’s Soccer Championships
held in Taipei from December 4 to 16.
The
DPRK team set the new record in winning the highest scores in one competition in
Asian women’s football, as the team scored a total of 53 points during the
championships. The team produced the most valuable player and the goal queen of
the championships.
Prospects
are bright for the team.
The
average age of the DPRK women’s soccer squad is 23. Not a few players have a
great deal of experience in international games, though the team’s members are
young. The team has its original systematic game tactics, and players have
fighting spirit and good perseverance.
The DPRK national squad, after joining the circle of the world soccer powerhouses, is expected to make a splash on the international arena.
Data-wise
results of DPRK Sports Scene
New
Asian record- 1
New
Korea record- 49 in 44 events
Medals
won in international sports meets:
Gold-
71
Silver-
39
Bronze-
40
Copyright © 2002 The People's Korea. All rights reserved.