Olympic ideals–excellence, friendship and respect–have seemed diminished in the era of network bidding, global commercialization and drug scandals. But here’s hoping that maybe, just maybe, the two-Koreas approach will yield something transcending sport and endorsements at this year’s Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Both North and South Korean athletes will symbolically march under a “unification flag” in opening ceremonies next month.
Don’t look for many, or maybe any, of the 22 participating North Koreans to bring back medals for Kim Jong Un to gloat over. But do look for the world to exhale a bit as any sign of rapprochement, North Korea’s overall agenda notwithstanding, in a time of nuclear tension is more than welcome.