North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Bids For Country To Host International Sporting Events In Efforts To Boost Country's Development In Sports
The supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, is set to bid for a hosting opportunity of major international sporting events, including the Olympics Games and World Cup as part of the leader's vision of the future highlighting sports and sporting feats, reported The International Business Times Oct. 7.
"FIFA officials will be visiting soon," noted a tour guide, who led tourists into a room with the official FIFA logo displayed on a wall.
In order to fulfill his dreams of making a big name for the country in sports' history, Kim ordered a full overhaul of the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium on Oct. 1 that will host the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier between North Korea and the Philippines.
The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium has a seating capacity of 150,000 and is currently the largest stadium in the world. The multipurpose stadium, located in Pyongyang, North Korea, usually hosts sporting events and Arirang performances.
The Guardian noted on Wednesday inside the stadium are photos of North Korea's various achievements in sports, with two huge portraits of former North Korean President Kim Il Sung and former North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il.
"It is the determination of the party to successfully remodel the May Day stadium into an icon of sports facilities in the country and into a stadium befitting the appearance of the highly civilized nation," announced Kim in 2013.
Aside from the stadium renovation stunt, North Korea will also reportedly construct a surfing center, ski resort, horse riding center, roller-skating arena and a football academy that is said to cost around $800,000, noted The Daily Star on Wednesday.
"Kim Jong Un has really prioritized spending on sports," said researcher at the U.S.-Korea Institute in Washington Curtis Melvin. "They have made sports a separate line item on cabinet reports, and we can see a 6 percent to 7 percent increase in the sports budget every year since 2012, with 2014 seeing it rocket by 17 percent."
