SOUTH KOREA: ZOO PUTS ON ANIMAL SHOW IN SUPPORT OF OLYMPIC TEAM.

Record ID: 864052

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: ZOO PUTS ON ANIMAL SHOW IN SUPPORT OF OLYMPIC TEAM.
  • Date: 10th August 2004
  • Summary: (L!1) YONGIN, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 10, 2004) (REUTERS) PENGUINS AND ZOO VISITORS VARIOUS OF PENGUINS RUNNING PENGUINS PENGUINS AND ZOO VISITORS / PENGUINS RUNNING CHILD ZOO VISITORS CHEERING PENGUINS RACE (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ZOOKEEPER LEE JAE-MAN SAYING: "We held this event since the whole nation's interest in the Olympics is really high, and we wanted the animals to have more interest in the Olympics. We also hope the (South Korean Olympic) team will achieve good results." VARIOUS OF ZOOKEEPER WITH CHIMPANZEE AND ORANGUTAN / ANIMALS CHEERING ORANGUTAN AND CHIMPANZEE CHIMPANZEE ORANGUTAN ZOOKEEPER AND CHIMPANZEE
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: YONGIN, SOUTH KOREA
  • City:
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Environment,Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAENFOJVGHZW6EE0K7JVFLELZ45
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: South Korean zoo puts on animal show to support Olympic team.
    With the opening of the Athens Olympics just a few days away, a South Korean zoo chose to support its national team with an animal cheerleading team on Tuesday (August 10).
    Zookeeper Lee Jae-man dressed the penguins in red jerseys resembling those of the "Red Devils" - South Korea's supporters for the 2002 World Cup finals. Millions of Red Devils pumped up fervor and excitement across the country with their unified cheers and trademark red jerseys as they watched South Korea reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.
    The penguins, brought from South Africa, marched to the delight of visitors in South Korea's mid-30 degree (Celsius) heat.
    Lee said he wanted to raise support for the Korean team among the zoo visitors and animals.
    "We held this event since the whole nation's interest of the Olympics is really high, and we wanted the animals to have more interest in the Olympics. We also hope the (South Korean Olympic) team will achieve good results," Lee said.
    The orangutan and chimp, dressed in a white robe and wreath resembling the ancient Greeks, acted out a mock medal ceremony on a winners' podium.
    South Korea, which hosted the 1988 Olympics, hopes to win 13 gold medals and finish the Athens Olympics games in the top 10 this year.
    Olympic host country Greece faces a serious test of their credentials against the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists in the opening match of the men's soccer tournament, which starts two days before the opening ceremony of the Games.
    South Korea, one of three Asian teams at the Olympics, are still legitimate contenders in a wide-open competition missing some notable absentees, including Brazil, Germany, Spain and holders Cameroon.
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