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North Korea Banned From 2022 Winter Olympics

North Korea Banned From 2022 Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee has punished the country for withdrawing from the Tokyo Games.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

North Korea has officially been banned from the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to bar the country from the Beijing Games as punishment for withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympic on late notice.

At the time, North Korean officials claimed the call was made to protect its athletes from the "world public health crisis".

It was the first time that the country has missed a Summer Games since Seoul in 1988.

As a result, no North Korean competitors flew out to Tokyo and represented their country on the world stage.

PA

The news of North Korea's withdrawal from Tokyo would have been devastating for some of the athletes, but it seems even future stars are now being impacted by that decision too.

The country, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has now been slapped with a pretty hefty punishment for skipping the most recent Games.

A statement from the IOC read: "Throughout the process, the PRK NOC was given a fair opportunity to be heard, and received very clear warnings about the consequences of its position and the fact that any violation of the Olympic Charter would ultimately expose the PRK NOC to the measures and sanctions provided in the Olympic Charter."

The IOC went on to add that vaccines for athletes were 'systematically rejected' by North Korean officials.

"They were violating the Olympic Charter and did not fulfil their obligation as stated in the Olympic Charter to participate," IOC boss Thomas Bach said at a news conference.

It's understood some individual athletes may be given an exemption to compete, although it would have to be under the Olympic banner - not their country's flag.

PA

But while the athletes may be shown some sympathy, the country itself will not.

Bach also announced that the sport's governing body in North Korea will forfeit large sums of money that it was due from previous Olympic Games.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: olympics, vaccine, Australia, Winter Olympics, Covid-19