THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015 SPORTS What lies ahead for Korea’s forgotten athletes?

SEOUL: Weightlifting champion Kim recognised the need to provide better sup- Association of National Team Members, Kim the weightlifter was one of those down two years ago while training, told Byeong-chan died alone, paralysed and port for athletes and introduced a bill that which aims to protect the rights of the athletes who poured his heart and soul Reuters it was impossible to combine ath- penniless after a motorcycle accident cut would provide pensions to national team local sports community, said very few ath- into sport. He won a gold medal at the letics at the highest level with traditional short his career, and for some former ath- members who sustain serious injuries, des- letes reach the pinnacle of their sport and 1990 Asian Games, as well as silver and schooling. letes his demise is a consequence of South ignating them ‘people of national merit’. most are unprepared for what comes next. bronze medals at the World “It’s a common saying (in South Korea) Korea’s ruthless pursuit of sporting excel- The proposal was passed into law in “Ninety-nine percent of athletes disap- Championships a year later, and was that ‘athletes are dumb.’ This is wrong,” said lence. January 2014 but has taken almost two pear before they bloom,” Chang told viewed as a potential Olympian until a the athlete, who declined to provide his The limited social safety net for athletes years to finalise guidelines and standards. Reuters. “Only one Kim Yu-na comes out of motorcycle accident in 1996 left him paral- name due to an ongoing lawsuit. who get seriously injured, or who fail to The Sports Ministry only began accept- 1,000 figure skaters. Same with soccer, one ysed from the waist down. “Athletes are very clever but in a way make the grade, is a concern for many ing applications on Oct. 1. A ministry offi- Park Ji-sung out of thousands of soccer Unable to find a job and struggling to we are ignorant because we don’t learn sportsmen and women in South Korea, a cial said it expected four applications this players. “It takes a tremendous amount of survive on a pension of some $500 a the knowledge taught at school.” Almost country which arrived on the global stage month. hard work to win a medal, but the govern- month awarded to medallists from inter- every waking minute was dedicated to with the hosting of the 1988 Seoul “This law is symbolic in that it shows ment has a tendency to look down on national competitions, Kim’s body was dis- sport at school, he said, with training start- Olympics. Park Chung-hee’s regime of the the country is protecting its national team these elite sports people. The treatment covered in his flat by a neighbour in June. ing at six in the morning and continuing 1960s saw sport as an avenue to raise athletes,” Lee told Reuters. “But if the coun- athletes receive after their retirement is The cause of death was not disclosed but after school until 10 p.m. Korea’s global profile and gain legitimacy try really wants to help its sports people, it unbelievably bad.” media reports said he had suffered various “If I went to school, it was really hard to at home, and poured huge amounts of needs to reform the sports welfare system, Kim Yang-rea, who led research into the illnesses. stay awake. I didn’t really participate in money into creating an elite athlete pro- this is the bottom line.” Lee, a former table status of 3,000 retired athletes for the Kim’s death shook the sports communi- class, even in the really basic ones,” he gramme as well as bidding to host interna- tennis world champion, said it was unlikely Korea Institute of Sport Science, said close ty to its core in South Korea, where leading added. “You can ask all the athletes out tional competitions. the law would be extended to include to a third end up unemployed. sports figures earn huge endorsement there, and I guarantee they all sleep in While the programme boosted Korea as non-national team members. The sports industry is too small to deals and Olympic champions receive class. Teachers used to say that even if we a sporting power and produced world- “I wish the country would come up employ all of Korea’s former athletes, Kim lucrative bonuses and lifetime pensions. sleep throughout the entire class, if we class athletes, it also has a darker side. with ways to help sports people when they said, and they often struggle to adapt to Kim So-young, a former gymnast who attend we’re doing a good job.” Athletes at schools and universities rarely retire as well as athletes who have lost normal life not governed by training and was paralysed from the neck down after an Former gymnast Kim knew the late excel academically and are encouraged to their way in life,” she said. “It’s not a great competition. Serious injuries further limit accident on the asymmetric bars, said the weightlifter when he was competing and focus all their efforts on joining the sport- amount of money we’re asking for.” their opportunities. “There needs to be a weightlifter’s death should be a wake-up remembers him as outgoing and magnani- ing elite. Former national volleyball player system that can support athletes by man- call. “It could’ve been any athlete’s story, mous, always surrounded with lots of Those who fail to win international Chang Yoon-chang said athletes have a aging their careers and improving their including mine,” said Kim, who now works friends. Cho Hong-joong, one of the chief titles or make national teams have little to hard time getting jobs and adjusting to general job skills,” Kim said. “Since they are for the Korea Spinal Cord Injury inspectors who recovered the body, said fall back on when their sporting careers society when their careers end because not capable of working right after retire- Association. Kim had no family when he died. His funer- end, and they can expect little help from they are “made into machines” through ment, (the government) should give them “There is nothing a disabled athlete can al was organised by a local sports commit- the government, according to support years of training and competition. money or at least help them attain the do. For us, sport was everything.” One for- tee and held at Kangwon National groups. South Korean lawmaker Elisa Lee Chang, president of the Korean skills needed for other careers.” mer athlete, paralysed from the waist University Hospital. He was 46. —Reuters

Owens emerges from ‘dark place’ into the final limelight

LONDON: In most sports it is considered the with many observers saying that his ability to sign of a good referee if he is not noticed but keep the game moving played a large role in when charismatic Welshman Nigel Owens has it being labelled “Match of the Century.” “I’m the whistle on the rugby pitch, players and not like some refs who could quote you the fans are usually more than happy to allow number of the law, with or without the brack- him his own cameo. Owens will take charge ets,” Owens said in a recent interview. of Saturday’s World Cup final and it is an “Of course I know them. But knowing the appointment that is richly deserved and has laws too well and technically applying those been almost universally welcomed. laws, well, you’ll never have a game of rugby. “He has been the outstanding official in You’ve got to have a bit of empathy as well.” the game for years,” Ian McGeechan wrote in Excellent refereeing is only one half of the his Daily Telegraph column yesterday. “His Nigel Owens story, however, as his position as game management is exceptional, especially one of the few high-profile gay men in inter- his rapport with the players. He is strict with national sport has brought him another kind them but always keeps a clear channel of of fame. communication.” Fans have become used to Owens came out publicly as gay eight Sergio Perez of Mexico in action in this file photo. hearing the officials via “ref-link” devices at years ago and has since told of his dark days major matches and Owens has developed before that, even coming close to suicide something of a cult following. when he took an overdose and passed out on When intervening in a spat between a Welsh mountainside with a shotgun by his Welsh brothers Scott and Craig Quinnell in a side, only to be rescued by a police helicopter. Perez ready for career Welsh club match, a young Owens admon- “I was going downhill very fast, to a very ished them by saying: “What would your dark place where there was no way out for mother think?” During a World Cup match at me,” Owens told the BBC in an interview soccer club Newcastle United’s St James’ Park broadcast this week. highlight in Mexico a few weeks ago, Owens told Scotland’s “I left a note for my mum and dad and said Stuart Hogg: “Dive like that again and come I can’t carry on any more with my life. I didn’t MEXICO CITY: Some Formula One drivers never among the liveliest of the year and Perez has favourite for what would be his 11th win of the back here to play in two weeks” while he tell them why. “I left the house that night with experience the pride and passion of racing in a been doing his bit to crank up the excitement season but team mate Nico Rosberg will be no often intervenes in pushing incidents by a shotgun loaded and with boxes of paraceta- home grand prix, their countries unlikely ever to further. less determined after a late mistake cost him telling the players they are being “immature”. mol and a bottle of whisky. If I hadn’t have appear on the calendar, but Mexican Sergio Third place in Russia was his Force India the victory in Austin. Owens’s refrain of “this is not football” to play- gone into a coma I have no doubts whatsoev- Perez will not be one of them after this week- team’s best result of the season and he followed “Whatever happens in the past doesn’t ers appealing or complaining has become er I would have pulled that trigger.” Having end. His country is making its return after a 23- that up with fifth in Austin. He has now finished change me going forward. It’s always full attack, something of a catch phrase and has even emerged from that period, Owens now finds year absence and Perez, the only Mexican on in the points in five of the last six races and has big push, that’s the way I am,” said the German, spawned a calendar with him on the cover. himself something of a torchbearer for the the current starting grid, cannot wait to tap into every chance of becoming the first Mexican to whose main aim now is to at least overhaul The jokes and chastisements are accepted fight against homophobia in sport. the energy of an expected 100,000-strong score in his home race since the late Pedro Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and finish second in because he is held in high regard by the play- “We are extremely proud of Nigel Owens capacity crowd. Rodriguez was sixth in 1970. Another podium at the standings. ers for his understanding of the game. for being selected as the referee for the final,” The excitement may not be in the same the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez would Hamilton, however, has far less pressure. He was in charge in Johannesburg in 2013 Jeff Wilson, chairman of International Gay league as Lewis Hamilton’s elation at winning send the fans into a frenzy and Perez was not Mercedes have won both titles for the second when New Zealand beat South Africa 38-27, Rugby, told Reuters.—Reuters his third world championship in Texas last ruling it out, even if he recognised it would take year running and as he said on Sunday night Sunday but it will still be a momentous occasion a big slice of luck. before heading for the team party: “now I can for the Mexican. “In normal conditions we are the fourth or go and win for fun.” There would be a symmetry Cash-strapped Australia “Having the opportunity of driving in my fifth fastest team depending on the race week- in that, too, if he did. The last winner in Mexico home grand prix is something I never thought end,” he told Reuters in Austin. “So in a normal was fellow-English champion Nigel Mansell in look for World Cup boost would happen,” says the 25-year-old, who has race, there’s no chance. 1992, who now has the revamped last corner only ever raced go-karts in Mexico. “Russia was a one-off. Probably in my whole named after him. It was there, in 1990 on the SYDNEY: Cash-strapped Australian rugby is enjoying watching us play, that’s really impor- “It will be one of the highlights of my career career in Formula One I never had two safety old banked and bumpy Peraltada corner that banking on the Wallabies defying the odds tant to us. We want them to live it with us,” and I have no doubt that this race will become a cars before lap 30 or so. So in normal conditions has now been modified for a safety reasons, and toppling the mighty All Blacks in Cheika said this week. modern classic of Formula One.” it’s going to be difficult but we aim to do the that Mansell pulled off a breathtakingly brave Saturday’s World Cup final to help boost its Australian rugby and the Wallabies can While the race comes on the ‘Day of the best we can for all the Mexican fans.” move in passing Austrian Gerhard Berger popularity and profile in a crowded sports claw back some popularity by winning the Dead’ national holiday, the fans should be Hamilton, inevitably, will again be the around the outside for second place.—Reuters market. The Australian , which Webb Ellis Trophy at Twickenham against an reported a Aus$6.3 million (US$4.5 million) All Black side that enjoys feverish support at deficit last year, badly needs the globe’s sec- home, where rugby union is the dominant Wild bunch Wallabies become band of brothers ond-ranked team to be crowned world cham- sport. There are plenty of people willing on pions as it battles bigger and better- the Wallabies, with the #showyourgold hash- resourced football codes across the country. tag aimed at drumming up support on TEDDINGTON: The Australia team to take part in from different experiences and backgrounds which speaks out for gay rights and says he will only mar- Australia is often described as one of the Twitter. “Wallaby fans. Time to #showyour- the World Cup final on Saturday has been trans- has formed a strong backbone to the team. ry his girlfriend once gay marriage is passed into most competitive sports markets in the gold. Hang your Wallaby flags, scarves, what- formed from a wild bunch into a chorus of angels This helped in their narrow scrapes: in their final law in Australia. He was arrested last November at a world, entertaining four well-supported foot- ever outside,” Green and Gold Rugby tweeted. with bruised faces. Coach took con- Pool A game against Wales they won 15-6 even climate change protest when he attached himself ball codes, all jostling for media and fan sup- The Wallabies official Twitter feed was also trol one year ago of a squad whose off-pitch repu- though they were down to 13 men at one point. to a digger. port. Rugby union ranks fourth and last doing its bit, saying yesterday: “It’s time for tation had hit rock bottom and seen embattled They beat Scotland 35-34 in the quarter-finals with “I’ve got to know him (Pocock) a bit better now behind Australian Rules, rugby league and young and old to get behind #Wallabies”. It coach Ewen McKenzie hand in his ‘sheriff’s’ badge. a last minute penalty by Foley. Argentina were and he is a really interesting character away from soccer in crowd numbers, participation and urged the public to retweet #StrongerasOne McKenzie’s reign was badly damaged by a spat beaten 29-15 in the semi-final, but the result was in the game,” said Cheika. media coverage, illustrating the hurdles it and let them know which venues and bars over a lewd text messages sent by to the balance until late on. Three of the Dublin ‘11’ For Wallaby skipper Stephen Moore the wild fel- faces. This is despite considerable success on will be showing the final live. But only a hand- team business manager Di Patston. reflect this changed culture and now make head- lows have become angels because Cheika has the field, with the Wallabies winning two ful of people had responded. In November 2013 he had publicly punished 11 lines for the right reasons. moulded them into one firm unit. “I think the World Cups and reaching the final on home The Wallabies’ World Cup success has tak- of the squad-including present members Bernard Fardy, who Cheika remarked has had to grow a biggest difference since he arrived is probably get- soil in 2003. Researcher Gary Morgan said en many people by surprise and is largely Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nick Phipps and Scott beard to get noticed against fellow backrowers ting everybody on the same page and getting Australians clearly prefer to watch Aussie thanks to the hard-love coaching of Michael Fardy for consuming “inappropriate levels of alco- David Pocock and Michael Hooper, gets asked everyone aligned in the same way with regards to Rules, which snares about 41 percent of the Cheika, who took charge a year ago. hol” on a night out in Dublin. about how he refused an offer to leave Japan after what we stand for, who we are playing for and who market, than the other codes. “The Australian The turnaround follows a disastrous 2011 Since Cheika strode into the Wild West that was the tsunami disaster of 2011. Ashley-Cooper we are representing,” Moore told AFP. Football League has a clear lead over all the World Cup campaign and an embarrassing the Wallaby camp, there has not been a peep of helped a dying friend’s wish come true by getting “He has succeeded in bringing players closer other football codes in Australia,” he noted. 41-16 defeat to surrender the 2013 British trouble. A repentant Beale has been restored to the to see Australia beat Wales and Phipps has studied together from different teams across Australia and “The National Rugby League is the closest and Irish Lions series, both under New squad. The bruises present after they beat for a business degree for up to hours a day at the creating special bonds. “We have become a very challenger with 6.73 million viewers (35.3 per- Zealand’s . But after 10 winless Argentina on Sunday were all acquired on the tournament. -born No 8 David Pocock tight knit group.”—AFP cent), well ahead of soccer — 4.01 million (21 internationals against the All Blacks, they beat pitch. Wallaby veteran scrum-half agreed percent) — and rugby union — 3.53 million them 27-19 in Sydney in August on the way that Cheika had calmed down the wild bunch. “I (18.5 percent).” to clinching the southern hemisphere’s guess so as there haven’t been any issues,” said the Below the Wallabies sit five Rugby Championship.—AFP 27-year-old, who says he is treating the World Cup franchises which all struggle financially, given final as his last Test as he joins French champions the expense of constant travel to South Africa Stade Francais after. “He (Cheika) is a genuine and and New Zealand for the southern hemi- honest guy and tells it how it is and what he sphere provincial competition. In a sign of the expects of you as individuals and as Wallabies. tough times, the ARU last year controversially “Those things (the excesses) obviously aren’t levied Aus$200 from every junior and senior acceptable and it is amazing the bind that his atti- club in the country to be used towards help- tude has had on this team.” Genia, who has formed ing the sport prosper. Although only a small a formidable partnership with fly-half Foley, says it outlay, the move caused rancour among the is easy to fall into line with Cheika because of the rugby fraternity. example he sets. And while other countries, like Japan, “He’s a guy that if he wants the team to do boast record television audiences for the something he does it himself,” said Genia. “He’s the World Cup, the Wallabies matches have not sort of person who will be straight with you if generated the same interest. you’re doing the thing right and if you’re not doing Coupled with early morning kick-offs-the that thing right he will also be straight with you.” final starts at 5:00 am on Sunday, Sydney Cheika takes great pleasure out of the disparate time-it has contributed to muted support for elements within his 31 man squad. “We’ve got a CARDIFF: This is a Friday Nov. 3, 2006 team of people who have come from different ori- Australia at the World Cup, despite coach file photo of Australia’s Stephen Michael Cheika’s rallying calls for the country gins as well as different characters. We have jokers, Larkham as he takes part in a captain’s the lovers, the fighters,” said Cheika without sin- TWICKENHAM: Rugby shirts and other items of merchandise are displayed in an official store to get behind the team. run training session at the Millennium ahead of the RugbyWorld Cup final match in London. The tournament final on Saturday will be “We’re really happy that our fans are gling out any individual. Stadium. —AP Several have considerable character honed contested between Australia and New Zealand. —AP