News from the NOCs - Korean Chef de Mission; Cameron to Japan; Hanoi 2019?

New Korean Chef de Mission

Ki Heung Lee will serve as South Korea’s chef de mission at the London Olympics.

The Korean Olympic Committee made the announcement Tuesday, replacing Kyung Sun Yu.

Yu resigned in March following investigations into alleged impropriety at the Eugene Corp., which he chairs.

In a statement on the KOC’s website, Lee placed high expectations on his performance.

"Mr. Lee hopes that with the great honor and responsibility, Team Korea will receive more than 10 gold medals and place within the top 10 nations on the medal list," the statement read.

Lee is a veteran sport administrator and chef de mission. He currently is the head of the Korea Swimming Federation and served as Korean delegation chief at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, where South Korea finished second in the medal tally.

$150 Million for Hanoi Asian Games Bid

Vietnam’s government is putting out requests for $150 million as part of a Hanoi 2019 bid for the Asian Games.

A report in Tuoi Tre News, a Vietnamese news outlet, cites Vietnam Olympic Committee secretary general Hoang Vinh Giangsaying the government will ask the various ministries related to the Games to fund the effort before finalizing the bid.

"Do not suggest that we will be wasting the money," he said.

Giang added that much of the bid proposal aligns with infrastructure projects that are already in place.

"The capital city is set to see eight new bridges and dozensof new expressways by 2012, which will all benefit the organization of Asiad."

Temporary Oman Olympic Committee Chair

IOC member Habib Macki will serve as Oman Olympic Committee chairman until October.

A report in The Times of Oman says the OOC held an emergency meeting "to discuss and debate some of the important issues listed in the committee’s agenda."

Macki replaces Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy. No reason was listed for the change.

British PM EncouragesJapanese Olympians

British Prime Minister David Cameron cheered Japanese Olympians on to success at London 2012.

Cameron made the comments as part of a video presentation during his state visit to Japan.

"To all the Olympians of Japan participating in the Olympics, we are looking forward to hosting you in London," he said.

"And we wish you good luck!"

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt was also part of the delegation and kicked off a tourism promotion campaign for Britain in Japan on the same day the video was aired.

"It has been a true pleasure and honour to receive words of encouragement from Prime Minister David Cameron and Minister Jeremy Hunt," Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda said in a statement.

"Together with Team Japan and other leaders of the Japanese sport community, I look forward to witnessing the world’s greatest spectacle in London this summer."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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