December, 18th. 2014 - North Korean Hearing Impaired Football Team Get First International Match
The Democratic Republic North Korea, widely known as the most insular nation on earth, is using sport as a means to reach out to the wider world. In an unprecedented move, the country’s leader Kim Jong Un, has supported a team of hearing impaired soccer players to travel to Sydney Australia, for the newly formed teams first international match.
The game has captured the attention of the world, as the country is normally characterised for it’s totalitarian regime and human rights abuses. As a result of the hearing impairment of the players, the referees have substituted their whistles with flags when a player makes a foul.
The move by North Korea to allow the international match has widely been categorised by international onlookers as a way for North Korea to contradict widespread negative views, by exemplifying the support it provides for the physically disabled.
The idea for the match was initiated by a South Korean church group in Australia, whose members also hosted the North Korean players at their homes throughout the duration of their stay.
The match is not the first time North Korea has been active in sporting activities on the international stage. In 2012, Rim Ju Song competed for North Korea in London’s Paralympic games as well as multiple North Korean athletes recently competing in the Asian Para Games.
Sport is an important vehicle for Cultural Diplomacy, as it brings people together from all over the world to participate in a neutral activity. Despite the tenuous reputation of North Korea throughout most of the world, when the players walk onto the football field all are created equal and the focus is on the game. In this instance, two teams from polar opposite backgrounds have been given the chance to create relationships and learn about their diverse cultures.
The game has been heralded as a sign that North Korea is moving in a positive direction and creating more opportunities for the freedom of its citizens. In addition to this, the high profile match has been a remarkable way to raise awareness for the disabled community, their rights, and the ways in which they can more actively be involved in cultural activities such as this.
