The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has informed the Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) that it will take part in the 28th Summer Universiade this year in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

On March 5, the GUOC announced that the head of the University Sports Association of D.P.R. Korea handed in the entry form through the International University Sports Federation (FISU) on March 3.

According to the entry information, DPRK will send 75 athletes and 33 officials to compete in 8 sports (i.e., athletics, diving, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, judo, football, and handball).

For the past 10 years, around 45 DPRK delegates have participated in each Summer Universiade.

A representative from the GUOC mentioned, “This year will mark the 70th year of independence from Japan’s colonial rule. Therefore, DPRK’s participation in Gwangju Universiade is meaningful than ever before. I truly hope the Universiade can be a stepping stone for the two Koreas to exchange positive dialogue.”

This year’s Summer Universiade in Gwangju, ROK, is due to take place from July 3 to 14 and is expecting 20,000 participants from 170 countries to take part in the event.

fonte: http://www.gwangju2015.com/

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) — South Korea on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of forming a unified team with North Korea for the Gwangju Summer Universiade to be held in July.
Given public sentiment here and current inter-Korean relations, it’s “not appropriate” to field such a joint team to the games, a unification ministry official told reporters on background.
He was responding to a news report that the government may consider a unified delegation if the North makes such a request.
The communist nation has submitted its application to participate in the international sports event for university athletes to be held in the South’s southwestern city from July 3-14.

fonte: Yonhap news