The Korea Sports Council (President Yoo Seung-min) noted, "We swiftly assessed whether there were infringements on the athletes' rights regarding the recently reported controversies related to the biathlon national team selection trials and took proactive measures. We aim to actively protect athletes in the future."
The Korea Sports Council established the "Athlete and Coach Support Department" within the Jincheon National Training Center as part of efforts to enhance the human rights of athletes and coaches and protect their rights while preparing for the next 100 years of sports in South Korea. The department will oversee the improvement of the rights of athlete coaches.
As a preventive measure against possible disadvantages to athletes during the national team selection process of the Korea Biathlon Federation, the council conveyed its concerns to the federation and requested that sufficient communication procedures be established to ensure the free will and opinions of affiliated athletes are respected in the federation's decision-making.
In the future, the Korea Sports Council will continue to pursue institutional measures to guarantee the dignity and rights of athletes and coaches, creating a free and fair sports environment.
Recently, the Korea Biathlon Federation and the Jeonnam Sports Council clashed over the selection method. According to the Jeonnam Sports Council, during the selection process for the Asian Games team in November last year, the biathlon federation changed the selection method and announced additional evaluation trials, to which the Jeonnam Sports Council opposed. The federation claimed it was a legitimate decision, but the Jeonnam Sports Council deemed it a biased decision aimed at selecting a specific athlete and instructed its athletes not to participate in the trials.
However, Ekaterina Avvakumova, who naturalized from Russia, defied the instruction of her team, the Jeonnam Sports Council, and participated in the trials, winning a gold medal at the Winter Asian Games while donning the Taegeuk mark.
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