By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter

With cheers, expectations and support from people all around, the first group of South Korea’s 376-member delegation to the Athens Olympics left for the Greek capital on Friday.

The group of 176 athletes and 27 staff members in 13 disciplines held a departing ceremony at Incheon Airport before their flight and vowed to reclaim a top-10 spot in the overall standings after finishing 12th four years ago at the Sydney Summer Games.

``We’ve prepared for the Olympics thoroughly for the last four years,’’ said Lee Yun-taek, president of the Korea Olympic Committee, who accompanied the athletes. ``With all the encouragement from our fellow Koreans, we will try to make the best results possible and stand out again as a leading country in the sports arena.’’

``I have a better feeling this time,’’ said Shin Bak-je, manager of the Olympic team. ``This Olympics will be a meaningful event in many ways since they are returning to where they began in Athens and we would like to return the people’s support by all means.’’

The athletes also showed their determination to do their best at the Games. Volleyballer Ku Min-jung, who will represent South Korea as co-flag-bearer during the joint march at the opening ceremony with North Korea, said she was extremely excited to finally be heading to Greece.

``I’ve waited for the Games for so long and feel thrilled and also somewhat burdened now,’’ the 31-year-old said. ``I will march into the main stadium at Athens with my male counterpart from the North, cheerfully and smiling bright.”

The first North Korean squad of 50 delegates, which may include Ku’s yet unveiled partner for the march, already arrived in Athens on Wednesday.

A second group of 115 South Korean delegates will depart next Wednesday, while the rest of the Olympic team will make their own arrivals at Athens according to competition and training schedules. Marathoner Lee Bong-joo arrived yesterday after completing his training program in Switzerland.

South Korea is sending a total of 376 delegates _ 267 athletes and 109 staff _ and has set a goal of winning at least 13 gold medals, the most in the country’s Olympic history. They expect to earn a top-10 position in the medal race after missing out in Sydney with eight golds, nine silvers and 11 bronzes.

hckim@koreatimes.co.kr