IOC Athletes' Commission Candidate Park In-bee: "I Need to Meet as Many Athletes as Possible and See Eye to Eye"

Next week, I will leave the country and start full-scale election campaigning… “Golf representative juniors, please show us just as much as you have prepared”

Golf queen Inbee Park, who was selected as a candidate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission representing Korea and is about to begin full-scale election campaigning during the 2024 Paris Olympics, has expressed her determination to meet as many athletes as possible to make herself known.

At the South Korean athletes' inauguration ceremony for the Paris Olympics held at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 9th, Inbee Park said, "When I competed as an athlete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, I went straight to the site after the competition and this is my first time coming to a place like this. 파워볼실시간

"I feel like the Olympics have really begun. It feels good," she said.

Inbee Park, who has won a total of 21 times on the LPGA Tour, including seven major tournaments, and achieved the "Golden Career Slam" by winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was selected as an IOC Athletes' Commission candidate through the selection process of the Korea Sports Council in August of last year.

Having passed the IOC's screening process for candidates from around the world and acquired the qualifications to run for the election, she will depart for the country on the 16th and begin full-scale IOC Athletes' Commission election campaign in time for the official opening of the Paris Olympic Athletes' Village on the 18th.

Candidates can travel around the athletes' village and campaign directly with athletes, or they can also promote themselves through social media.

Inbee Park, who is gradually preparing for her departure, said, "This time, I am not competing as an athlete, so I do not feel pressured, but I did something familiar in Rio, and this time, I am doing something new, so it feels different," adding, "But it is true that I feel a lot more at ease."

When asked about her 'campaign strategy,' she said, "I received advice on it, and since there are athletes from many countries, I think it would be easier to approach them if I learned at least one greeting from each country.

He said, "Eye contact is also important," and smiled, saying, "I don't know how much time I'll have, but I'm going to meet as many people as possible, make my face known, and at least say 'bonjour.'"

Athletes' Commission members are directly elected by athletes from all over the world, and the term is eight years.

As Olympians, they represent the athletes' voices in the IOC, and if elected, they are treated the same as regular IOC members.

Inbee Park emphasized, "If I become a player's commissioner, I think it will be important to strengthen the rights of the players as well as their responsibilities.

Since I am a 'working mom,' I think the participation of those players is also important, and in the case of golf, I think it would be good to add team events and mixed events so that many people can watch in various ways."

During the ceremony that day, Inbee Park also sent a video message of support when the junior golfers were introduced during the introduction of the entire team.

In the video, she said, "One thing I realized when I competed in the Olympics is that you have to believe in yourself.

Believe in yourself and your team, and do your best."

She added, "I hope all the players will compete without injury and achieve the best results."

To the golfers who will compete, she said, "There are some players who are competing in their second Olympics, so they will feel less pressure than the first time and it will be a stepping stone for them to do much better.

It will be hot and difficult, but I hope you play well and show as much as you have prepared."

She has not competed in the LPGA Tour since August 2022, and when asked about her tour plans, she said, "I plan to not compete this year for now," and added, "I will announce my position on the matter at the end of this year or early next year."