Sports

IOC says North Korea to have 22 athletes in 5 Olympic sports

Key Points
  • Both Korean teams will march together in the opening ceremony next month
  • The North Koreans will compete in five sports, including a unified women's hockey team
People walk in front of mascots of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Soohorang (L) and Bandabi (R) on January 5, 2018 in Seoul, South Korea.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says 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 says 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 Feb. 9-25 Winter Games.

Bach offers "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.

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