United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have been served tea during a state visit to South Korea called “Serene Morning of Pyeongchang” to help promote next year’s Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
They were served the herb tea by South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook.
Melania Trump also appeared at an event organised by the US Embassy in Seoul, alongside Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom and K-Pop star Choi Min-ho.
Lee gave her replicas of Bandabi and Soohorang, the Asiatic black bear and white tiger, who are the mascots of Pyeongchang 2018.
Trump also spent time with South Korean students to promote physical activity among young girls.
She had arrived in South Korea with her husband for a two-day state visit after spending three days in Japan.
Trump attended the launch event of “Girls Play 2”, organised by the Embassy and aimed at giving girls more opportunities to play sports.
In her speech, in front of some 80 Korean middle school pupils, she emphasized equal rights for both genders in enjoying sports and called for teamwork.
She said: “Sport teaches children about teamwork, dedication, discipline, and how to succeed under pressure.
‘When we assure girls and boys have equal access to sports we are ensuring they have an equal chance to gain these valuable skills
“Girls Play 2 reminds people that girls love to play sport just as much as boys do.
“Girls wants to play basketball and hockey, and snowboard and ski.
“Some girls want to become Olympians and many girls simply want to be active and enjoy sport for the fun of it.
“The Olympics are just around the corner.
“I am sure you are all very excited about next year’s games.
“It will be an amazing opportunity to bring the world together through our shared loved of sport.
“As we look forward to the Olympics I call on all of us to ensure girl and boys are given equal access to facilities equipment and to coaches.
“Let’s remind the world that girls play too.”
After the speech, she watched some of the students play ice hockey, took group photos with the students and shook hands with everyone in the first row.
The event was also attended by senior South Korean Government officials including Chung Hyun-back, Minister of Gender Equality, and Roh Tae-gang, Vice-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
“The U.S. First Lady #MelaniaTrump attended a sports event to encourage female participation in sports and promote #PyeongChang2018,” the Pyeongchang 2018 official Twitter account wrote.
The Trumps embarked on a 13-day trip to Asia last Saturday (November 4).
During their trip to Japan, Donald Trump played nine holes of golf with that country’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
This course is due to be used during Tokyo 2020.
On his trip to Seoul, Trump held talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in about the current crisis with North Korea which is threatening to overshadow Pyeongchang 2018.
Trump also addressed South Korea’s National Assembly and issued a warning to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un.
“The weapons that you are acquiring are not making you safer, they are putting your regime in grave danger,” he said.
“Every step you take down this dark path increases the peril you face.”
By Duncan Mackay
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.