B. Expressing the Opinion to Provide Sign Language Interpretation during
the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter
Games
On February 22, we delivered our opinion to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the
2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the three largest national television networks
of KBS, MBC, and SBS to offer sign language interpretation for the closing ceremony of the
PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the opening and closing ceremonies of the
PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
For the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, KBS only
offered sign language interpretation for some parts including the speech by the President of the
IOC. MBC and SBS did not offer sign language interpretation at all. Sign language interpretation
was not available on the electronic billboard on-site, either.
We requested that the three national television networks provide sign language interpretation
services for the hearing-impaired to help all people better enjoy one of the most globally
celebrated sporting events taking place in Korea and delivered our opinion to the PyeongChang
Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to provide
sign language interpretation via electronic billboards on-site during the opening and closing
ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Paralympics and the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter
Olympics.
We viewed that the provision of sign language interpretation would help communicate the
values of Olympism to persons with disabilities and thus make the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games a true festivity for all.
C. Expressing the Opinion on Human Rights Violations Committed by
Postponing the Decision on the Request for the Appointment of a
Public Defender
On June 7, we concluded that the justice department's failure to decide on the appointment of
a court-appointed defense counsel prior to the date of the first trial despite the defendant's request
was a violation of the defendant's right to receive the assistance of a defense counsel guaranteed
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Commission's Major Activities