2024-07-28 20:46:18
The Korean national table tennis team players were able to escape the official shuttle bus for the 2024 Paris Olympics, also known as the ‘steamer bus’. This was thanks to the consideration of Seung-min Ryu, the president of the Korea Table Tennis Association and an Athletes’ Commission member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
On the 27th, the Korea Table Tennis Association announced, “We have decided to provide a 9-person vehicle and driver to the national table tennis team,” and “We have also prepared separate accommodations and an athletes’ village 10 minutes away by car from the South Paris Arena, where the table tennis court and training center are located.”
The association said, “We will give priority to dispatching vehicles to athletes staying in accommodations other than the athletes’ village, but if the issue of transporting the athletes cannot be resolved, we will dispatch vehicles to the athletes’ village,” adding, “We will be able to save time commuting to and from the athletes’ village by arranging accommodations near the stadium, and guarantee the athletes’ rest time.”
The athletes had a hard time getting to the stadium and training grounds. The organizing committee operates shuttle buses to transport the athletes, but they often do not leave on time. Since it is not a direct route, it takes about 40 to 50 minutes one way from the athletes’ village to the stadium. The organizing committee does not even turn on the air conditioner on the buses, citing the “low-carbon Olympics” campaign. The windows cannot be opened, perhaps to prevent terrorist threats.
Chairman Yoo Seung-min, who decided to pay a daily vehicle usage fee of nearly 1 million won, said, “As a senior, I decided to provide support because I wanted to provide some help to the athletes who have waited for this competition for four years.” Chairman Yoo also visited and encouraged his juniors who are participating in this Olympics.
Chairman Yoo is the gold medalist in the men’s table tennis singles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and is the last Korean table tennis player to win a gold medal. In 2016, he was selected as an IOC Athletes’ Commission member, the highest honor in the sports world.
Reporter Lee Hye-won, Donga.com [email protected]
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2024-07-28 20:46:18