‘No special preferential treatment’ – Hangzhou Asian Games spox addresses North Korean participation

« Hangzhou Asian Games spokesperson Mao Genhong addressed the participation of the North Korean team, as the country competed in its first major event in five years, during an operations briefing at the Hangzhou Main Media Centre on Monday.
“During the competition, the North Korean team enjoys the same treatment as the delegations from our Olympic Council of Asia member countries and regions, » the spokesperson stated. « There is no special preferential treatment. The North Korean athletes’ competition and viewing are the same as those of athletes from other countries and regions.”
The country chose to miss the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and was subsequently suspended for that unilateral move – which it blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic – from the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
North Korea’s female women weightlifters made an impressive return to international competition during the Asian Games, setting five world records, winning two gold medals, and defeating Olympic and world champions from China.
As of October 2, the Hangzhou Asian Games had awarded a total of 275 golds across various disciplines, with China, South Korea, and Japan topping the medal table.
Spokesperson Xu Deqing stated that on October 2, a total of 26 venues would host events including squash, diving, and archery, resulting in the distribution of 30 gold medals.
Under the slogan ‘Heart to Heart, @Future’, the games run until October 8, spanning six Chinese cities, including Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. Over 12,000 athletes from a record 45 countries are competing for 481 gold medals across 40 sports. »



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