The International Olympic Committee suspended North Korea from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as punishment for its no-show at the Tokyo Games, said IOC President Thomas Bach.
“For its decision to skip the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics over COVID-19 safety concerns. The North Korean National Olympic Committee will also permanently forfeit payments that had been withheld by the IOC due to international sanctions on the country. With its non-participation, they were violating the Olympic charter and did not fulfill their obligation. NOC is suspended until the end of the year 2022 as a result of its unilateral decision,” Bach said
“I think we can still say that these games were safe. Because we have no indication whatsoever that there was any infection being transferred from the Olympic bubble to the people of Tokyo or the people of Japan. I think this is supported by scientific evidence. And also by the fact, you have rising figures not only in Tokyo but all over Japan,” he added
Individual athletes from North Korea could still be accepted: Thomas Bach
IOC president Thomas Bach said the North Korean national Olympic body will also now forfeit money it was due from the previous Olympics. The unspecified amount could be millions of dollars had been withheld because of international sanctions. However, Individual athletes from North Korea who qualify to compete in Beijing could still be accepted by a separate decision. They were violating the Olympic Charter. And did not fulfill their obligation as stated in the Olympic Charter to participate.