ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1996 TAG: 9601040065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
What if they gave an Olympics and everybody came? That's just what will happen in July.
A historic 100 percent turnout was assured Wednesday when North Korea said it would send a team to the Centennial Games in Atlanta.
Of the 197 nations invited by the International Olympic Committee to compete, North Korea had been the only one failing to reply.
But after weeks of diplomatic efforts by the IOC and former President Jimmy Carter, the North Koreans sent word they would take part. The acceptance came in a letter to IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch from the president of the North Korean national Olympic committee, Myong Chol Park.
It marks the first time in the postwar era that all nations affiliated with the IOC have agreed to compete in the Olympics - a triumph for a sporting spectacle that was marred by political tensions and the boycotts of the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Games.
``This is wonderful news,'' said Francois Carrard, the IOC's director general. ``We are extremely pleased. Our objective has always been to gather the youth of the world. To reach this goal for the Centennial Games in the United States is very important.''
The participation of 197 countries in Atlanta shatters the previous record of 169 set at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
In addition to North Korea, the field includes other international pariahs such as Iran, Iraq and Libya.
``That's thrilling,'' said Billy Payne, president of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.
``It's extremely important, it being the centennial. We are just excited as we can be that The Atlanta Olympics will mark the 100th anniversary of the modern Games.''
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB