South Korea’s culture minister, visiting venues for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, said he felt “thrilled and proud” after attending the opening ceremony.
Choi Hwi-young, minister of culture, sports and tourism, visited the Olympic Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcast Center (IBC) at the Allianz MiCo convention center in Milan on Friday morning local time, meeting and encouraging South Korean reporters covering the Games. “I attended the opening ceremony the day before, and you really feel something on site,” he said. “When the South Korean team marched in, I felt thrilled and proud.”
Choi arrived in Italy on Feb. 4 and attended the opening ceremony at San Siro Olympic Stadium as the South Korean government’s representative.
South Korea sent a 130-member delegation and entered 22nd among 92 national Olympic committees, led by flag bearers Cha Jun-hwan (figure skating) and Park Ji-woo (speed skating).
Choi said he waved at the athletes as they entered the stadium and later saw himself on the broadcast. “I was just happy to see them and only clapped, but later I saw the camera caught me,” he said. “If I’d known, I think I would have held a Taegeukgi.”
On Feb. 5, Choi visited a meal-support center in Milan and attended the opening of Korea House at Villa Necchi Campiglio. He said athletes had expressed disappointment with meals at the athletes village and hoped the meal-support center would open. “I tried it myself, and it was good,” he said, adding that heated lunch boxes will be introduced to help athletes.
Choi planned to visit the Milan ice skating arena Friday afternoon to cheer for Cha during the men’s singles short program in the figure skating team event. He is scheduled to return to South Korea on Saturday after completing his itinerary.
Choi also said he plans to visit the site again for the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Paralympics, which open March 6.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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