Olympics can support Korean peace process: Polish president

Duda was speaking during a four-day visit to South Korea where on Friday he was set to attend the opening ceremony of the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in the eastern town of Pyeongchang, some 180 kilometres from Seoul.

Duda said that the Olympics would provide opportunities for politicians from around the world to meet and talk to one another.

Several dozen national presidents and many heads of government were expected to attend the Games’ opening ceremony on Friday.

Sport generates positive emotions and has potential to “alleviate conflicts and calm an atmosphere of war,” Duda said.

He described the Olympic Games as "a great festival of friendship and peace in a spirit of sports competition good for the world.”

The Polish president on Thursday met with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Seoul.

Duda on Friday visited the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea and talked to officials from the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC).

The Polish head of state declared that his country, in its new role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, wanted to “become involved in the process aimed at de-escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula."

On Saturday, Duda plans to watch Polish ski jumpers compete for medals at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Poland’s Kamil Stoch finished second and his countryman Dawid Kubacki came third in Thursday’s qualifiers for the men's normal hill ski jumping competition at the Pyeongchang Games.

Poland is sending a contingent of 62 athletes to the Pyeongchang Games, which will be held from February 9 to 25.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, PAP