Good morning, fellow Koreans,
 

We are now in the height of the rainy season. The Government is doing everything it can to prevent damage caused by torrential rains. I hope all of you will be mindful of safety as well, especially during vacations.

The London Olympics will start on Friday. Korea made its debut at the summer Olympics in the London Olympic Games in 1948, three years after liberation.

At that time, Koreans across the country raised funds to pay for the national Olympic team’s expenses, and it took as many as 21 days for the Korean athletes to travel to London by train, ship and plane.

Despite such difficulties, Kim Seong-jip and Han Soo-ann won bronze medals in weightlifting and boxing, raising the national flag of Taegeukgi high in the Olympic arenas for the first time since liberation.

Today, some six decades later, the status of the Republic of Korea in sports has greatly changed. Korea ranked 7th and 5th in medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, respectively. It has truly emerged as one of the sports powerhouses in the world.

In previous Olympics, Korea won many medals mainly in such combat sports as wrestling, boxing and judo. Nowadays, however, Korean athletes have distinguished themselves even in events dominated by advanced countries, including swimming, rowing and sailing. In addition, our athletes have qualified to compete in the Olympics even in such events as modern pentathlon and triathlon. All these achievements carry great significance.

Korea has now become a sports power and, at the same time, its K-pop, dramas and food are loved by people across the globe, which has been dubbed the Korean Wave. It is very desirable for the Republic of Korea to reach out not only as an economic power but also as a cultural power. It is immensely contributing to enhancing the stature of the country around the world.

Last April, I visited the Taeneung National Training Center and met our national team athletes who were training hard there.

Our young athletes, who have ceaselessly striven to compete in the Olympics, looked bright and were full of self-confidence. Seeing them, I was truly delighted with the thought that Korea could be a sports and culture power because of these young people.

Jung Ji-Hyun, a pillar of Korean wrestling, did not cave in after a series of injuries and took up the challenge to fight for the gold once again.

 “I have had a tough time since I was injured during the World Championship last year, but I am dreaming of a successful comeback once again. Thinking that there is no more room for me to step back, I have trained desperately hard every single day. I will come back without any regret after doing my best in the London Olympics. Go! Korean wrestling!”

Boxers Shin Jong-hoon and Han Soon-chul are aiming for gold, which no Korean boxer has won in an Olympics in the past 24 years.

“This is my first time to participate in the Olympics, which makes me nervous. With the intention of demonstrating all the skills I have so far honed and with a belief that efforts never ever betray, I will do my utmost to make thorough preparations.”

Kim Su-ji, a 15-year old diver, who is the youngest on the national squad, is an ambitious rookie.

 “The charm of diving is the thrill. The sense of accomplishment I feel after an exquisite performance is indescribably good.”

There are numerous athletes who are devoting themselves to the training of Olympic athletes although they can’t compete in the games. Swimmer Lee Hyun-seung, a training partner of Park Tae-hwan, is a big help to him.

“Though I couldn’t make it to the Olympics, it has been truly meaningful for me to train hard with Park Tae-hwan. I don’t have any regret because I have done my best.”

I would like to take this opportunity to warmly encourage Mr. Lee for his genuine sportsmanship.

Proud athletes of the national squad,

As many Korean athletes became heroes and heroines at the Beijing Olympics and Vancouver Winter Olympics, now it is your turn to pull off even greater achievements and give greater inspirations to the people.

The national team has set its sights on finishing in the top ten in the medal table with at least ten gold medals. I am confident that they will be able to reap good results as they have done their best in making preparations.

The passions and spirit of challenge for the Olympic Games are beautiful in themselves. The simple fact that you will be competing in the Olympic arena tells us that you already are a winner.

Sometimes I hear a silver medallist say, “I''m sorry. I''ll try harder next time.” I think Korean athletes are the only people who say “I''m sorry,” after winning a medal.

The fruit reaped with the best of one''s abilities is something to be proud of regardless of the color of the medal. The medal winners have every right to be proud of themselves. The Government has reduced the pension differentials between winners of different colors of medals.

The fighting spirit that the athletes will be demonstrating in the midst of the current global economic hardships will give great comfort to the Korean people.

During the 1998 foreign exchange crisis, Pak Se-Ri won an LPGA championship dramatically coping with a critical situation while playing. Her feat gave an enormous boost to the nation.

This time, too, we will hear the Korean national anthem reverberating in the skies of London and see Korean Olympians standing tall on the global stage. That will give us all reasons for joy and hope.

The only drawback is that real-time TV viewing will be a little inconvenient because it will be in the very early in the morning. Nonetheless, I trust that all Korean citizens will clap and cheer the Korean team united with one heart.

I will surely join everyone in rooting for them every morning.

Finally, I would like to thank all the coaches and managers of the national team. I pay tribute to President Park Yong-sung of the Korean Olympic Committee. I appreciate the dedicated efforts exerted by the presidents of the different sports federations as well as all the people who have made this possible. Your endeavors have been truly commendable.

The members of our national team will give all they have again this time. Once more, on behalf of the nation, I congratulate each one of you. You have all our support.

Thank you very much.