Jin, a member of the group BTS, will be the torchbearer for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. This is presumed to have taken into account the fact that BTS is gaining popularity not only in Asia but around the world, and has consistently conveyed messages related to peace since its debut.
According to the music industry, Jin is scheduled to leave for France soon to participate in the torch relay. Although the exact date and location of the relay have not yet been revealed, the news of Jin’s participation is raising great expectations among fans. Jin, the eldest member of the team completed his military service and was discharged on the 12th of last month. He started with a fan meeting immediately after being discharged.
 [Korean Today] Jin, a member of the group BTS, is giving a raised hand salute to reporters after being discharged from the 5th Division Recruit Training Battalion in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do and leaving the guard post (Photo provided by Sports Seoul, June 12, 2024) ⓒ Park Chan-doo reporter |
An official from Hive, BTS’s agency, said, “Any information related to the Olympics must be announced after consultation with the IOC (International Olympic Committee),” and added, “We will soon summarize and announce our position regarding the torch relay.”
The Paris Olympic flame was lit last April at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Olympics. The flame will tour major cities and towns in France and be lit on the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, when the opening ceremony will be held. Approximately 10,000 torchbearers for this year’s Olympics were selected, and in addition to sports stars, people from all walks of life were selected, including survivors of Nazi concentration camps and bereaved families of terrorist victims.
Jin recently posted on the fan community Weverse, “I’m steadily progressing with the plans I made while in the military, including recording and filming entertainment shows. I’m also working on my day job while showing my face as much as possible, and the results will be released in a few months, so please wait a little longer,” he said.
 [Korean Today] Jin, a member of BTS (Photo provided by Yonhap News) ⓒ Reporter Park Chan-doo |
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11. This Olympics aims to be an environmentally friendly and sustainable event by maximizing the use of existing facilities, utilizing renewable energy, and minimizing carbon emissions.
Games will be held against the backdrop of major landmarks in Paris, for example, a beach volleyball match will be held in front of the Eiffel Tower and a cycling race will be held on the Champs-Élysées. They plan to use the latest technology to improve game operations and viewing experiences, and provide fans with a new way to watch games through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
They aim to create a competition in which people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds can participate and enjoy, and they aim to raise awareness of disabled sports by strengthening integration with the Paralympic Games. During the Olympics, various cultural events and festivals will be held, providing an opportunity to enjoy sports and culture at the same time.
The Korean team is likely to participate in the mid to late 140s, which is the smallest size in 48 years since the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The Korea Sports Council selected Camp Guinemer, a military facility in Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, as the base camp. Jang Jae-geun, head of the Jincheon National Team Athletes’ Village, announced that he plans to create an environment similar to the Jincheon Athletes’ Village so that the athletes can adapt to the time difference and train well.
The Korean team will undergo thorough preparation and training to achieve the best results, and will compete with pride and responsibility as national representatives. In addition, we will practice the Olympic spirit through fair competition and sportsmanship, and promote better results through teamwork and cooperation among athletes.
<저작권자 ⓒ 코리안투데이(The Korean Today) 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
