IOC Awaits UN Decision to Send Sports Equipment to North Korea

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Friday that an exemption from the UN Security Council to transfer sports equipment to North Korea would boost its efforts to thaw tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The UN Security Council has increased sanctions on North Korea since 2006 to choke off funding for Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Luxury goods are banned with recreational sports equipment falling under that category, Reuters reported.

The IOC said that a request to the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee was made to help North Korean athletes prepare, qualify and participate in Olympic Games. Bach said he was hopeful of a positive result. “Such a move can also facilitate the IOC to continue to contribute to the thawing of tensions on the Korean peninsula through sport,” the German said in a statement.