Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2008/08/136_28899.html

Koreans Warm Up for Cameroon Game

By Sunny Lee
Korea Times Correspondent

BEIJING ― As South Korea's football team prepares to play its first Olympic tournament match against Cameroon Thursday, the Korean cheering squad in China is also getting ready.

On Wednesday, Korean residents in Beijing held a cheering practice session in Wangjing, a Korean town in the Olympic host city.

``I believe the role of the cheering team is very important for boosting the athletes' spirits,'' said Lee Chang-ho, head of the cheering squad from the Korean Community in China (KCC). ``A soccer (football) team is composed of 11 players. We will be there for them, with a firm belief that we are the 12th player. We are part of the team.''

Lee said a group of Korean television celebrities would also lead the cheering team.

As many as 1,000 Korean residents in Beijing will go see the game, and another 1,000 are expected from other Chinese cities such as Tianjin and Qingdao.

The football mach will be held in Qinhuangdao, approximately four hours away from Beijing. The KCC has reserved charter buses that leave from Beijing Thursday afternoon to transport the Korean fans to the match site.

With reinforced security for the Olympics, as many as 7,000 Chinese police will be embedded in the crowds to prevent mishaps from happening.

Stricter rules for game spectators will be also implemented. For example, organized cheering by Korea's passionate yet sometimes aggressive cheering squad, the Red Devils, won't be allowed. People cannot carry big banners either.

``We will do our best within the boundary of what is permitted,'' said Kim Hyo-tae, a KCC official, adding he had already discussed security concerns with the Chinese police.

``We had a very good discussion,'' he said. ``The Chinese police are very helpful.''

Kim is confident the cheering will go well.

``We will try to replicate the same warm support for the players that they felt in Korea in China as well,'' he said. ``I heard the Cameroon team is tough, but they don't have this.''

Park Yong-jeong, a student volunteer from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, is excited about the game, but he is also concerned about the safety issues.

``The game is important,'' he said. ``But when this number of huge crowds moves together, the safety issue is more important."

[email protected]

[pkang0202]

do professional soccer players participate in the olympics?

[R-Seoul]

Yes, but only if they're under 23yrs. I believe each team is allowed to field two players that are over 23yrs, hence Ronaldinho in the Brazilian squad.

[Stevie_B]

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

BTW, what time is this on the box tonight?

[R-Seoul]

[mindmetoo]

I remember during last world cup I took each game as an opportunity to teach kids about the country Korea was playing the next day. First up was Ghana. You know like the chocolate bar. I asked kids what they thought Ghana's major export was. "Computers?" "Cell phones?" I hinted if they had seen that word before. "Ah yes. Like the chocolate bar." "So what do you think is their major export?" "Cars?"

*face palm*

These kids are dull, dull, dull.

[The Grumpy Senator]

Korea played Togo in the World Cup, but nice try.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Typical Korean team performance, all balls and no c0ck; couldn't finish if you paid them. Still, a point against Cameroon is not the worst thing in the world.

BTW, I was very happy with Australia holding Serbia 1-1.

[Harpeau]

Interesting game. Some of the Korean players seemed to be loosing their concentration in the 2nd half~ crappy passes~ going out of bounds. I saw that they only made one substitution. They really should have gone with 5 or 6. Fresh legs really could have made a difference, as Cameroon succeeded in proving.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[spyro25]

koreans first touch was awful. cameroon ran rings around the koreans for the most part. even the korean goal was goalkeeper error rather than any actual skill on the koreans part. me and my korean family all agree that this park jun yong striker is the biggest waste of time on the team.

Korea will have to beat italy if they want a good position out of this - although i am constantly cheering for ANY opposition to Korea this year as this is the Korean 'year of hate'. i hope korea wins NO medals whatsover as they simply don't deserve them.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[spyro25]

yeah archery and taekwondo should go to korea. Judos on saturday under 60kg that will be good to watch. personally i think that korean swimmer stands no chance against the aussies, didnt he false start the last olympics?