SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Chang Ung, a pivotal figure in sports diplomacy between North and South Korea and a former member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has passed away at the age of 87. The IOC reported his death on Wednesday, stating that they learned of his passing on Sunday with “extreme sadness.” To honor Chang, the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland for three days.
Chang's death has not been covered by North Korean state media, and the cause remains undisclosed. Born in 1938, Chang initially made his mark as a basketball player, eventually captaining the North Korean national team. Transitioning to administrative roles, he served as the vice sports minister, vice chairman of North Korea’s national Olympic Committee, and vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.
In 1996, Chang was elected as the first and only IOC member from North Korea, representing his country on the global sports stage. He played a significant role in steering diplomatic talks focused on sports exchange with South Korea, marked by several joint initiatives and events.
One of the high points of Chang’s efforts came during the 2000 Sydney Olympics when athletes from both North and South Korea marched together under a "unification flag," symbolizing their shared heritage for the first time since their division in 1945. This moment marked a significant milestone in inter-Korean relations, showcasing the potential of sports to bridge divides.
Following the Sydney Games, there were other notable collaborations between the two nations, including joint participation at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, where Chang expressed profound emotion upon witnessing the unification of Korean athletes during the opening ceremony.
Chang's contributions were further reflected in earlier discussions that led to the formation of the first unified teams for the 1991 world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan. Additionally, during the Pyeongchang Olympics, North and South Korea's cooperation was highlighted again when they fielded their first combined Olympic team in women's ice hockey. However, the landscape of sports diplomacy between the two nations has deteriorated in recent years due to rising political tensions.
Currently, there have been no sports exchanges or cooperative initiatives since 2019, coinciding with the collapse of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's nuclear talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. As relations worsened, Kim has categorized South Korea as a perpetual adversary and dismissed future unification efforts.
The IOC noted that Chang’s efforts significantly contributed to the advancement of sports participation and cultural exchanges while underlining the role of sports in society. IOC President Kirsty Coventry praised Chang’s initiatives, stating that they demonstrated the ability of sports to build bridges and inspire hope within the Korean Peninsula.
Chang’s legacy in the Olympic community was recognized as he served on various IOC commissions, such as Sport for All and the International Olympic Truce Foundation. His last known mention by North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, occurred earlier in 2023 when he was awarded the Olympic Order, a prestigious honor granted to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the Olympic movement. Chang participated in the ceremony via a video link, affirming his enduring influence within the Olympic landscape.
