The breakthrough announcement came as the countries met for their first high-level talks in more than two years.

The delegation will include athletes, officials and supporters.

South Korea also proposed holding family reunions during the Winter Olympics for people separated by the Korean War.

The issue is a highly emotional one for both countries, and South Korea has constantly been pushing for more reunions to take place.

The reunions are expected to take place during the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls in the middle of the Pyeongchang Games.

Seoul also called for athletes from both Koreas to march together at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. It’s not yet known how North Korea responded to those offers.

The last time both countries marched together under the Korean Peninsula flag was more than 10 years ago, at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

The talks began early Tuesday in the Panmunjom “peace village” in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) at the border.

Speaking afterwards, Seoul’s vice unification minster Chun Hae-Sung told journalists: “The North side proposed dispatching a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, supporters, art performers, observers, a taekwondo demonstration team and journalists” to the Games.

Tense ties

Ties between both Koreas have become increasingly tense since the last talks in 2015.

Relations broke down after Seoul suspended a joint economic project at the Kaesong Industrial complex in North Korea following a rocket launch and nuclear test by the North.

The incident led to North Korea ending all communication with Seoul, including cutting off telephone lines.

Tensions have risen in the years since, as the North continues to rapidly advance its banned nuclear weapons programme.

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Source: BBC

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Both cities had wanted to host the 2024 event, before LA agreed to wait an extra four years after the IOC made guarantees on funding.

The Paris Games, which had fallen short with bids for 2008 and 2012, will mark 100 years since it was last held in the French capital.

Los Angeles hosted it in 1932 and 1984.

Paris and Los Angeles had been the only two candidates for the 2024 Games after Hamburg, Rome and Budapest withdrew from the race.

The IOC voted in June to award the 2028 Games at the same time as 2024.

The Californian city wanted the earlier Games because of its readiness to host while Paris said its prospective site for the Games would not be available for redevelopment after 2024.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the votes for both cities were “unanimous”.

Paris’ bid team made liberal use of the city’s most famous landmark, incorporating a stylised version of the Eiffel Tower in their logo.

When the action starts it will be the backdrop for the triathlon, marathon and open-water swimming.

The beach volleyball will take place in nearby Champs de Mars, while the road cycling will finish on the Champs-Elysees, which also hosts the final stage of the Tour de France.

The athletics will take place at the Stade de France, which staged football’s 1998 World Cup final and Euro 2016 final, while the gardens of former royal palace Versailles will host the equestrian events – eventing, showjumping and dressage.

Los Angeles’ bid said it was about “what we have, not what we’re going to build”.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which hosted athletics at the 1932 and 1984 Games, is to fulfil the same role in 2028.

Organisers plan to use Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy’s StarHub Center for rugby and modern pentathlon events, while making use of Santa Monica beach for volleyball.

Two significant elements are yet to be constructed however – baseball ground Dedeaux Field will be converted into an open-air venue for swimming and diving.

And new MLS side Los Angeles Football Club are still building the 22,000-seater stadium that will host football matches.

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Source: BBC

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This renewed partnership with the International Olympic Committee will take in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and the Olympic Games in 2024 in a city yet to be selected.

The announcement follows the completion of a competitive tender in the region.

SuperSport will also work with the IOC to support the development of the Olympic Channel, including the production of localised content and linear distribution across the region.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We are delighted to be working with DStv SuperSport to be able to bring Olympic fans more coverage than ever before. I have visited many countries across Africa and have witnessed first-hand the important role that sport and the Olympic Games play on the African continent.

The IOC redistributes 90 per cent of the revenue derived from its commercial agreements to support the development of sport around the world, including in Africa.”

Said Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport: “As long-time partners of the International Olympic Committee, SuperSport is delighted to have secured these excellent Olympic rights.

The Games produce consistently good ratings, no doubt because of the non-stop drama and action that make for compelling viewing. We look forward to putting together a multi-platform, multi-channel offering that will reflect the Olympics in their full glory.”

According to Cecil Sunkwa Mills, General Manager, MultiChoice Ghana “athletics fans in Ghana are assured uninterrupted coverage of all the action live from China and Tokyo in HD quality pictures only on DStv.”

Coupled with this announcement is the massive reduction in prices for our HD Zapper decoder. He explained that as a customer centric organization, this reduction will be making great entertainment more accessible and affordable at the new decoder price of Ghs149.”

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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