Korean athletes won't march together in Beijing: Rogge

North, South entered Sydney, Athens Games under same flag

Last Updated: Thursday, August 7, 2008 | 7:24 AM ET

CBC Sports

Olympic athletes from North and South Korea won't be marching together under one flag in the Beijing opening ceremonies, the president of the International Olympic Committee announced Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in his first official press conference from the Beijing Games, an uncharacteristically blunt Jacques Rogge called the countries' decision "a setback for peace, and harmony and reunification."

Rogge said each country's Olympic committee had reached an agreement to bring the athletes together for Friday's opening ceremonies, as was done during the two previous Summer Games.

But the deal to march under blue and white "unification flag" was scuttled by political leaders in Pyongyang and Seoul, he said.

"There was a great willingness on the side of sport to have a joint march like we did in Sydney and in Athens," Rogge said. "Unfortunately, both the political powers in the South and the North did not agree, and I regret this very much."

Rogge said the IOC must accept decisions of sovereign governments.

The two countries, which have never signed a peace treaty to officially end the 1950-1953 Korean War, started the joint marches as part of a thaw in relations in 2000.

Both sides announced a plan in 2005 to participate as a single team in the Beijing Games. But talks were reportedly halted over disagreements on the composition of the team and increased tensions between the two countries in recent months.