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Fireworks over the closing ceremonies of the Seoul Olympics, 1988

1988 Seoul Olympic Games

A collection of primary source documents about the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games drawn from the archives of the International Olympic Committee. The collection highlight the relationship between sport and politics and offer an unprecedented window into North Korea's negotiating strategies, inter-Korean relations, and the DPRK’s foreign relations at the end of the Cold War.

Fireworks over the closing ceremonies of the Seoul Olympics, 1988

Popular Documents

September 18, 1985

Memo of Meeting Between Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister, Maria Zaharieva, and North Korean Ambassador to Bulgaria, Ha Dong-yun

Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister, Maria Zaharieva meets with North Korean Ambassador, Ha Dong-yun to discuss North Korea's concerns regarding South Korean involvement in international venues to be hosted in Bulgaria.

January 15, 1988

Information Note on a Visit by Soviet Olympic Committee President Gramow to Munich

Report submitted to IOC President Samaranch describing a visit to by Soviet Olympic Committee President Gramow to Munich. Gramow remarked that North Korea's decision on participating the upcoming 1988 Summer Olympics would have no influence on the attitude of the Soviet Union. Gramow also commented that sporting relations between the USSR and Germany were developing positively.

July 16, 1985

Report by International Olympic Committee Vice President on his Trip to North Korea

A report from IOC Vice President Kumar regarding his trip to North Korea. He addresses attempts to ease tensions between North Korea and South Korea over the staging of the 1988 Summer Olympics and to determine if the two countries would be able to work together on the event.

July 5, 1988

Letter from US Senator to the President of International Olympic Committee on Reagan and Gorbachev's Support of De-politicizing 1988 Seoul Olympics

Letter from U.S. Senator Ted Stevens to the President of the IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch, containing Stevens' correspondences with the U.S. Secretary of State, George P. Shultz, on the 1988 Olympic Games.

August 6, 1988

Letter from Un Yong Kim, President of General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) to the President of International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Letter from IOC Member, Dr. Un Yong Kim, to IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, on airspace and flight plans for the 1988 Olympic Games.