“I would love the team to get the Nobel Peace Prize,” Ruggiero, a member of the IOC’s executive board said a day after the unified Korean team competed at the Pyeongchang Olympics. North Korea is subject to heavy UN and US sanctions designed to pressure the reclusive, one-party state to abandon its development of nuclear and ballistic missiles. The team took to the ice for the first time on Saturday, losing to Switzerland but winning over the crowd as North Korean cheerleaders and South Korean fans roared the players on. The countries are still technically at war since their 1950-53 war ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty. Last month, the North agreed with South Korea to send 22 athletes and a 230-strong cheering squad to the winter Games.

Source: bd News24 February 11, 2018 09:56 UTC