France mulls skipping 2018 Winter Games

Australia is at this time not joining the government of France in warning it may withdraw from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The Australian Olympic Committee says it is monitoring the political situation on the Korean border, less than five months out from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea.

But it says there is no reason at this time to pull our team out of the Games, which runs between February 9-25 next year.

The AOC's comments come after France's government announced its team will not travel to the Games if its security cannot be guaranteed.

US President Donald Trump is locked in a stand-off with North Korea and has threatened to "totally destroy" the country of 26 million people if the North threatens the United States and its allies.

"The safety of our team is of the highest priority but we are comfortable with the priority that the (International Olympic Committee) and the organising committee are placing on security and safety of the Games and its participants," the AOC told Reuters.

"We are relying on advice from DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and working with the Korean Ambassador and if their advice changes, we will advise our team accordingly but for the moment there is no suggestion that the Games will not go ahead or their safety is compromised."

Pyeongchang is just 80km from the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) said it was working with all the relevant authorities to ensure its athletes would be safe at the Games in South Korea.

"As is always the case, we are working with the organisers, the US State Department and the relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that our athletes, and our entire delegation, are safe," said USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said its representatives in South Korea had done site visits but noted that the Canadian government recommends that its citizens should take normal security precautions.

"The government of Canada does not currently have travel advisories in place for South Korea and recommends that Canadians exercise normal security precautions, which is the lowest of four risk levels," the COC said.

International Ski Federation chief Gian-Franco Kasper has dismissed any fears among athletes, saying the Pyeongchang Olympics would be the "safest in the world".

He conceded, however, that ticket sales among overseas visitors could be affected.


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Source: AAP


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France mulls skipping 2018 Winter Games | SBS News