IOC to decide on N.Korea in 2018 Winter Games

The IOC has said it will host a four-party meeting to decide on the participation of North Korea in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games to be held in South Korea in February.

The meeting was called following a joint proposal by the North and South Korea on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

It would be chaired by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on January 20, it was announced on Wednesday.

Bach is supposed to be joined by a delegation from the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee and delegations from the National Olympic Committees of both Koreas.

The meeting would have to take a series of essential decisions including the number and names of athletes and officials from the North since the deadlines for registration havey expired.

It would also have to decide on the format of such participation, including questions related to the official protocol such as the flag, anthem, ceremonies and uniform.

On Tuesday, North Korea confirmed it would join in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games which is scheduled for February 9 to 25, following Seoul's proposal that Pyongyang send a large delegation as well as a cheering squad to PyeongChang.

--IANS

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