Congratulatory messages to the NDNnews (www.ndnnews.co.kr) & Seoulcity magazine
On the occasion of the forthcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic
Games, The Seoul Diplomatic Corps. sent their congratulatory
messages to the NDNnews (www.ndnnews.co.kr) & Seoulcity
magazine as belows in the hopes of its great success & international
friendship and last but not least peace between participating countries. -Ed.
2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games Message
From Michael Schwarzinger, Ambassador of Austria
First of all I am happy to wish everyone just wonderful Olympic
experiences. The Games will be a festival for everyone. I express
my heartfelt appreciation to the Korean people for offering the
world the 2018 Games. I hope that the host region will be
endowed for generations with a very positive legacy from them.
I wish to congratulate all athletes. They can be proud of everything
that they have accomplished to make it to Pyeongchang. Olympic
Games have always promoted peace and harmony. Even if sport
does not solve all the world’s problems, sport contributes to a better world.
H.E. Tito Saul Pinilla Pinilla, Amb. of Colombia
I would like to greet with great pride and joy – even more so nowadays –
the athletes who make us believe in a prosperous and peaceful future.
You all represent the values of discipline, effort, and teamwork,
making you role models for young people.
The PyeongChang 2018 Olympics will be one of the most important
events continuing the legacy of the Ancient Olympics with an
objective to bring about peace.
To the 3 Colombian athletes who will participate in the 2018 Winter
Olympics, I wish them the greatest success in their competitions.
Long live our athletes and the future of Colombia!
Dear SeoulCity readers,
I am very honored and pleased to be in Republic of Korea in
the time, when PyongChang is going to organize Winter Olympic
Games. It was an old tradition that during Olympic Games all
wars and conflicts were stopped and I am delighted that this
tradition is now resonating in Korean Peninsula. I am sure that
PyeongChang Olympic Games will be very successful not only
from the point of view of organization but as well regarding
excellent results of Korean sportsmen. I wish to all of participant
excellent experience and full success!
Tomas Husak
Ambassador of the Czech Republic
The spirit of brotherhood, instituted by Pierre de Coubertin in
1896, had to overcome great obstacles such as the world wars,
to now consolidate as a unifying event, at a special moment in
the history of the Korean Peninsula. Five centuries before Christ,
in the ancient Olympics, the armed confrontations in Greece
and its neighborhoods were suspended and the confrontations
moved to the "Olympic battle" of Athens. It did not mean the
end of conflicts, but the beginning of the path for understanding
through competition and triumph.
Under these premises - brotherhood and competition - it is a
pleasure to greet the Olympic delegations that will compete
in PyeongChang and especially the Korean unified delegation.
This act shows that a lasting peace and coexistence is possible.
It is also important to mention that, for the first time in history,
Ecuador will have a representative in a Winter Olympics: Klaus
Jungbluth will represent us in the cross- country skiing, 15km freestyle, which will take place on the
16th February. For him, my desire to succeed.
Success and triumph for all Olympic athletes.
Oscar Herrera Gilbert
Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to the Republic of Korea
Ambassador.
The spirit of the Olympic Games implies building a better
world through fair and healthy competition in all sports
disciplines. The Olympic Winter Games to be held in the city
of PyongChang,
South Korea this coming February 2018,
are already a magnificent and historic
opportunity to be established as an instrument
of peace in the Korean peninsula.
I wish to express my sincere wishes that
the cause of peace on the Korean peninsula
will go beyond PyongChang, so that sports
exchanges will be extended to other areas of
much-needed cooperation
in the short term, within the spirit of respect
and understanding already achieved.”
Milton A. Magaña Herrera
El Salvadors Ambassador acredited to Korea.
Iran Amb. Hassan Taherian's Message on the occasion
of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games
I am very delighted to have such an opportunity to s
end a brief message about PyeongChang Winter
Olympics through “Seoul City” magazine.
Since a long time ago, Olympics has been an arena
where the young and athletes from four corners of the
world would come together to demonstrate in a friendly
atmosphere their physical and mental capabilities thus
strengthening relations and improving peace and
friendship among peoples and nations all across the world.
Holding PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic
Games 2018 in such a tense condition on the Korean
Peninsula is of high importance. I hope this event
would help to ease tension on Korean Peninsula and
in North East Asia region and act as the Olympics for
peace and friendship.
Fortunately, in a wise decision, North Korea has
expressed its intention of joining in these competitions.
This decision and both Koreas partaking under a unified
flag will surely add to the further attractiveness of the
competitions and uplift the call for peace and friendship
among the peoples and nations.
Iranian athletes particularly in Paralympics section will
have an active participation in upcoming Winter Olympics.
I wish our athletes good results and I hope they will shine.
I wish my best for peaceful and successful holding of this
upcoming winter games.
“On behalf of the People and Government of Mexico, I wish to
extend my sincerest congratulations to the Republic of Korea and
to the Korean People for hosting the PyeongChang 2018 Winter
Olympic and Paralympic Games. I am absolutely convinced that
these Games are on track to become one of the most memorable
sporting events of modern times, as the world marvels once more
with the achievements made by this great country in all areas. In the
same way, I am certain that this new opportunity of gathering around
sports will inaugurate a new chapter in the promotion of inter-Korean dialogue for the peace and prosperity of the Korean
Peninsula, while greatly contributing to the consolidation of the
Olympic values of friendship and fraternity among the peoples of the world.
Bruno Figueroa
Ambassador of Mexico to the Republic of Korea”
Congratulatory Message for the 2018 PyeongChang
Winter Olympic Games
Dear Readers,
It is an auspicious privilege for me to address the readers of the
Seoul City Magazine.
First of all, I would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt
congratulations on the Republic of Korea’s great efforts for hosting the Winter Olympic Games being
held in PyeongChang in February. I strongly believe that this
upcoming Winter Olympic Games will sustain H.E President Moon Jae-in’s policy on the Korean Peninsula, building a better future, lasting
peace and ultimately unification.
Furthermore, sport can be used to bridge cultural, ethnic and
social divides as well as people can tap the full potential of
sport as a driver of peace and social change. Therefore, I do
believe that this historic event can make a stronger relation
between the participating countries and it can also help reduce
tensions on the Korean Peninsula and restore peace on the peninsula.
I am sure that 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will
be a remarkable event not only for Korea but also for the
world community. Last but not least, I reiterate my hope and
heartfelt wishes to the participating countries of success,
peace, stability and prosperity.
Sincere wishes,
H.E Thura Thet Oo Maung
Ambassador
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Goodwill Message
The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics offers an opportunity
for Nigeria for the very first time to participate in the epoch-
making event which will feature a team of three young and
talented Nigerian women in the bobsleigh event.
It is worthy to note that Nigeria and indeed most countries in
Africa are not blessed with the weather conditions that favour
the development of winter-related games. But the tireless
efforts and determination of these three Nigerian athletes is
indeed a thing of pride to Nigeria and the entire African
continent as they join their counterparts across the world to
participate and share in the joy of the Winter Olympics.
On this score, I congratulate the government and people of
the Republic of South Korea for hosting this great event,
hoping that it will act as a catalyst for the promotion of
peace on the Korean Peninsula and across the world.
Amin M. Dalhatu, Ambassador
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Korea Seoul
Firstly, I would like to wish you happy new year with all the best and success
in 2018 and coming years. I also wish you successful hosting of Pyeongchang
Winter Olympic and Paralympic. With no doubt that the collective
Korean government support including the applied advanced technologies
beside the newly constructed roads, expressways and high-speed railway lines and KTX to PyeongChang and wide experience
of Korea will contribute to successful hosting of the Pyeongchang
Winter Olympic and Paralympic.
Pyoengchange winter Olympic and Paralympic will be Olympic
of sports, culture and technology which will host many cultural
performances and will showcase Koreas technological powers
and products including the 5G power game, the AI powered
services, the VR sport experience, the IoT and UHD.
I believe that all these festivals will be great opportunity to promote
and attract tourism to Pyeongchang's beautiful nature and landscape
not only during winter but for all seasons. I hope that 2018 Winter
Olympics will be full of trust, strength, with strong will and courage.
Once again, I would like to express to the Koran government my c
ongratulation for hosting the winter Olympics 2018 with warm
wishes for successful hosting of the games and to make
Pyeongchang Winter Olympic and Paralympic “Games of peace”
and Olympics of ICT and 5G. We hope that the Pyeongchang Games
will send messages of peace, serve as an opportunity to resume
dialogue with North Korea, and contribute to promoting peace in
the Korean peninsula and world peace.
Mohamed Alharthy
Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman
in the Republic of Korea
<Message of the Ambassdor of the Republic of Paraguay>
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay,
I express to the People, Government and Organizers of the
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Pyeongchang 2018,
Republic of Korea, the best wishes for success in these major
international sporting events. These games are symbols of
Peace in the world.
The Paraguayans believe that the Olympic Games are means
that forge and strengthen fraternity and peace among
humankind and nations of the world.
The world will witness these great international events and they
will grant unforgettable moments of peace and happiness to
all, in particular, to the people of the Republic of Korea,
promoting a process of pacification in the Korean peninsula.
With my sincere wishes!!!
Raul Silvero
Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay
I would like to congratulate the Government of the Republic
of Korea and the Organizing Committee of the PyeongChang
2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on such
important event. The PyeongChang 2018 symbolizes
a grand gathering of people from all around the world in
celebration of Olympic winter sports, which is taking place
in the harmonious land of PyeongChang. I strongly believe
that the PyeongChang 2018 will be the most successful
Games in the Olympic history, because this is a crucial sport
event for peace and development. I assure that the
PyeongChang 2018 Games will help spread the message
of peace not only for Koreas, but also for the whole world.
Ambassador Riyad Ahmed Almubaraky
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia- Seoul, Republic of Korea
Congratulatory message for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter
Olympic Games
I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the
Organization Committee of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic
& Paralympic Winter Games for their great efforts to host this
very meaningful international event.
This is probably the biggest event held in Korea in the last 30
years since the Seoul Olympic Games of 1988 when this
country demonstrated its exceptional organization skills
and impressive economic performance. By the way, the
Spanish International Olympic Committee’s Chairman at the time was Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch,
who made a big contribution to convince many countries to
participate, and for the extraordinary success of these Games.
Under the slogan of ‘Passion. Connected’, PyeongChang
symbolizes a place where everyone is connected with
passion for winter sports and Koreans share their warm
affection and their innovative technology, opening a new
horizon for a new beginning, and a harmonized world.
The world’s best athletes will compete in 102 events in 15 sports
disciplines for over 100 gold medals. Spanish athletes will
also have their presence in different sports at the Olympic
Games, such as Javier Fernández, who has five European
and two World figure skating titles already and aims to reach
an Olympic medal on ice at PyeongChang.
As President Moon put it, this is ‘a good chance for the
people of Korea to heal and regain hope by successfully
hosting the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games’.
I sincerely wish all the best for the successful celebrations of
the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic & Paralympic Winter
Games. Thus, I firmly believe that this would be a great
opportunity for Korea to show the rest of the world its
spirit of unity and strength through sports.
Gonzalo Ortiz
Ambassador of Spain
2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games
Congratulatory Message of H.E. Manisha Gunasekera,
Ambassador of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea enjoy strong bonds of
friendship and cooperation enriched in recent times by the
celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations and the state
visit of the President of Sri Lanka H.E. Maithripala Sirisena to
the Republic of Korea in November 2017.
The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the hosting of
the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChaang in February
this year. This is the first time that the Republic of Korea
is hosting Winter Olympics, and the second time it is
hosting Olympic Games altogether, which is the major
multi-sport event of the world.
PyeongChang Winter Olympics also offers a wonderful
opportunity for the Republic of Korea to showcase its
spirit of friendship and unity with the people of all nations
of the world in a spirt of amity and cooperation. I therefore
take this opportunity to wish the Government and the
people of Korea a successful Winter Olympics in PeongChang.
I also extend my best wishes to all participants and spectators
of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics from all over the world.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Korea H.E. Olexander Horin
My heartfelt greetings to readers of The Seoul City magazine
and warm congratulations with the mega sport event, the
Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. To host the event like this
is a great honor, courage and the excellent chance for your
home country promotion.
From the ancient times the human beings found the way
how to compete and to show high results by peaceful
means. We all believe that Olympians from more than 90
countries will become envoys of peace. I hope this Olympics
will bring victory to both Korean and Ukrainian teams. I also
wish our nations to gain the peace on Ukrainian and Korean
lands. I truly believe that our nations will finally overcome
the results and long lasting consequences of foreign
aggression and start enjoying true and lasting peace based
on the basic principles of international law.
On the occasion of the forthcoming Olympic Games in
Pyeongchang, it gives me great pleasure to extend my
heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people
of the Republic of Korea. Based on its deep and brilliant
experiences, Korea will organize incredible Games as the
Olympic Games of 1988, and World Cup Champion of 2002.
2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang will be a
landmark in the history of the Republic of Korea, and the
International Community. North Korea has accepted the
wise and courageous initiative of H.E. President Moon Jae-in, and has decided to participate in these Games. The
participation of the North Korea could be a very useful
opportunity for the two Koreas to engage in a process of
reconciliation, aiming at achieving peace and stability in the
Korea peninsular and the whole world.
Mohamed Abdelaal, Ambassador of Sudan
First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations
on the organization of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games
Pyeongchang 2018.
The Olympic Games are the world’s largest showcase of athletic skill and competition but also
so much more than just a sporting event. They are a chance
for people to come together in collaboration and experience
new cultures with new people. The Olympics bring countries
together in peace and celebrate the accomplishments of the world’s top athletes in the Olympic Spirit which is to build a
peaceful and better world through mutual understanding,
friendship, solidarity and fair play.
Considering from this point of view, I am convinced that
Pyeongchang 2018 best suit the true objective of the
Olympic Games with the participation of the North Korea
who will march together with the South Korea under one
flag at Pyeongchang Olympic “Peace” Games. I am
convinced that the North Korea’s participation will drive peace initiatives and be a meaningful
turning point in relations between the two Koreas. Furthermore,
I hope that it will contribute to convey a message of
reconciliation and peace to all over the world
My best wishes for successful organization of
Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games!
Mamadou Gueye FAYE
Ambassador of Senegal in Seoul