Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� May, 2002

Prime Minister Attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan Friday, May 31, 2002 (Photograph by AFP = Jiji) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attended the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan jointly hosted by Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in the ROK. This World Cup football tournament is the first ever held in Asia, and the first to be co-hosted. Following the address made by President Joseph S. Blatter of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "Representing the people of Japan, I join President Kim Dae Jung in offering a heartfelt welcome to the people of the world. I hope that over the next 31 days, people around the world will share the emotions of this event and open their hearts to each other as they overcome differences of nationality, language, and religion. I would like to extend my best wishes to all of the 32 teams participating in this World Cup. I look forward to seeing you all again in a month at the final match in Yokohama." Afterward, President Kim Dae Jung of the ROK declared the World Cup Finals open. Following the Opening Ceremony, the World Cup tournament began with the opening match between France and Senegal. Prime Minister Koizumi cheered the players on enthusiastically together with President Kim Dae Jung.