Bach Reportedly May Lobby North Korea Directly

(ATR) IOC President Thomas Bach may travel to North Korea to appeal to sport administrators directly in hopes to convince the country to participate in the 2018 Olympics.

North Korea has qualified a pair of figure skaters to the 2018 Winter Olympics, but missed an October deadline to register them. The country boycotted the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, but has sent delegations to the 2002 and 2014 Asian Games in South Korea.

To convince a delegation to go to PyeongChang, Bach is considering a trip to Pyongyang, North Korea, according to a report from Yonhap. The South Korean news agency cited a South Korean government source with knowledge of arrangements for a trip. Multiple requests for comment from the IOC were not returned.

"If Bach's trip is realized, it can be a positive sign for North Korea's participation in the Games," a government source told Yonhap.

If Bach does not go, another member of the IOC could travel to Pyongyang, the source added.

Previously, Bach has talked about using "bilateral" contacts to engage North Korea. He said those contacts were more effective for dialogue instead of appealing to officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

North Korea also has an ally within the IOC, member Ung Chang.

Chang refused to take questions about the situation during the 2017 Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly last month. He has said in the past he is not a politician and has "no pull," with the North Korean National Olympic Committee. However, Chang did say he would attend the 2018 Winter Games as an IOC Member.

Written by Aaron Bauer

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.