Switzerland says unified Korean hockey team would be unfair
The prospect of a joint Olympic women's hockey team for South Korea and North Korea isn't sitting well with one of its potential competitors.
Janos Kick, the head of communications for the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, told South Korean news agency Yonhap that while it would be a "positive sign in terms of world politics," Switzerland would not support the move.
"In terms of sports and for all teams who invest a lot of money and resources in their women's teams, we are not in favor of this since it's not fair and distorts competition," Kick said, according to Inside the Games' Nick Butler.
The Swiss spokesman added that his federation was not consulted about the decision, which was reportedly agreed upon by both Korean nations Wednesday.
"We've never been approached officially by the International Olympic Committee or (the) International Ice Hockey Federation. We've learned about this through (the) media."
South Korea and North Korea are planning to march together during the opening ceremony and ice a joint women's hockey squad at PyeongChang 2018 next month, but the decision to unify still requires IOC approval.
Switzerland is slated to open its Group B schedule against South Korea in women's hockey on Feb. 10.