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North Korea to have 22 athletes in five Olympic sports, IOC says

Thomas Bach offered “sincere thanks to the governments of North and South Korea”.

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IOC, President Thomas Bach with North Korea’s Olympic Committee President and sports minister Kim Il Guk, left, and South Korea’s Sports Minister Do Jong-hwan (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone/AP)

The IOC says that 22 North Korean athletes will compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics next month and both Korean teams will march together in the opening ceremony.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the North Koreans will compete in five sports disciplines, including a unified women’s hockey team.

The others are figure skating, short track speed skating, Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.

The North Korean delegation will include 24 coaches and officials at the February 9-25 Winter Games.

Mr Bach offered “sincere thanks to the governments of North and South Korea”.

The agreement became possible after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said three weeks ago that a team could cross the border to compete.

Mr Bach did not take questions and was flanked by Olympic and government officials from both countries at a brief news conference.

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