:mad: SEOUL, Nov 24 (AFP) - South Korean sports officials onMonday urged US :mad: short-track speed skater Apolo AntonOhno to reverse a decision to skip a World Cup series inSouth Korea after receiving death threats.
They fear Ohno’s move, quickly followed by thewithdrawal of the entire US team from the event, coulddamage South Korea’s image.
It will negatively affect South Korea's sports imageif a player can't take part in a game because ofsecurity fears,'' said Lee Chi-Sang, director of theKorean Skating Union. Called the most-hated athlete in South Korea’’ byone Korean newspaper, Ohno decided against traveling toJeonju City for the November 28-30 event after receivingdeath threats via email from South Korea.
Ohno won the 1,500-meter final at the 2002 Salt LakeCity Olympics after South Korean golden boy KimDong-Sung, who crossed the line first, was disqualified.
Koreans say that Ohno, who raised his arms in protestas he tried to cut past Kim on the inside track, fooledthe referee into making a bad call.
The Korean Olympic Committee protested but thedecision by Australian referee James Hewish was upheld.
Yoon Kang-Ro, deputy secretary general of the KoreanOlympic Committee, said the death threats came from avery small minority of Koreans. It is all a bigpity.'' I think most South Koreans were eager to welcomeOhno,’’ he said. He is a world class competitor andthey wanted to see him in the flesh. I think he shouldchange his mind.'' One major South Korean newspaper said Ohno would be adead man walking’’ if he showed up in Jeonju City forthe three-day World Cup event.
Announcing his decision to skip the event, Ohno saiddeath threats were terrorism.
``Cyber terrorism is every bit as dangerous and wrongas any other type of terrorism. Without the arrest ofthe criminals making these threats against me, I see noother choice but to not compete at this World Cupevent,’’ he said.
South Korea is hoping to stage the 2014 WinterOlympics and some sports officials feel the Ohno affaircould hurt the bid.
A wise decision by ohno. I live in Southie (Korea) and I can say that the depth of animosity towards him is intense.