How a British Charity Ended Up Financing North Korea’s Only Paralympian

Regardless of which country an athlete competes for, training for the Paralympics takes effort and money.

North Korean swimmer Rim Ju-Song, for example, got financial help from the British charity Care For Children.

Care for Children usually works with Asian governments to develop their foster-care systems.

The organization had been doing that with the Chinese government, when it was approached by North Korea, looking for similar help.

Soon enough, Care for Children Executive Director Robert Glover and his team were en route to Pyongyang.

There he participated in unique ”diplomatic” events involving table tennis, and was eventually asked to help athletes get into the Paralympics.

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Marco Werman: Regardless of which country an athlete competes for, training for the Paralympics takes effort and money. North Korean swimmer Rim Ju Song, for example, is being funded by the British charity Care For Children. Care For Children usually works with Asian governments to develop their foster care systems. The organization had been doing that with the Chinese government when it was approached by North Korea looking for help. Soon enough, Care For Children executive director Robert Glover and his team were on route to Pyongyang, which eventuallyl led to supporting North Korea’s Paralympics program.

Robert Glover: I always remember, in the early days, we had a table tennis match and I think we were two one up and we had our best Chinese girl coming on and I had to whisper into her ear, “I think you better throw this one.” So we made sure that we ended up with two two and everyone was happy. Asia’s all about relationships and building relationships and so when they raised the idea about the Paralympics, we just thought, “Wow. We got to do this.”

Werman: So it’s kind of a new iteration of ping pong diplomacy.

Glover: Absolutely, and it’s exciting because, I mean, initially they were talking about four athletes coming to London. You know, we thought that was pretty exciting given the numbers that South Korea was sending in and China and then when it went down to one, the qualified round. We thought, “Yeah. This is really what we’ve got to do.” Paralympics is all about inclusion. Inclusion of people with disabilities and I just felt this is a great way to bring some people from North Korea into the world scene and the first time they’ve ever been to the Paralympics. So it’s got to be a win for everybody.

Werman: We just heard in the story from Jason Struther, a moment ago, that one broadcaster in North Korea says disabled children are not even allowed to live in Pyongyang. What do you know about North Korea’s reaction to the whole idea of their sending an athlete to the Paralympics?

Glover: Unfortunately, Marco, very little. Since going in last December, my limited connections have been, you know, with meeting people in Beijing, but certainly while we were in North Korea we did see people with disabilities and we did see the way they were treated and I think there were lots of surprising things. You know, in all aspects of the spectrum of travelling around North Korea and seeing, maybe not what you would expect.

Werman: So, North Korea has sent a delegation now to the Paralympics. A group of twenty-four people going to the U.K. apparently. That’s a big rentenue for just one athlete. Is the charity funding the whole delegation or just Rim?

Glover: We’re funding the whole delegation and the reason that is, it’s not to do with North Korea, it’s to do with the officials and they have to have, you know, doctors and physiotherapists. They have to have someone who knows the rules.

Werman: Wow.

Glover: They have to have someone who carries the flag. They have to have officials attend official opening. So, you know, the specifications set by the World Paralympics, you know, on each country rather than, you know, a delegation just coming for the sake of it. So I think all twenty-four are necessary, but we’re more than happy to reach out to that group and bring them into London. I mean, they’re having a great time.

Werman: Yeah. Sounds like the kind of staff for a celebrity, though. This must be a great thing for Rim Ju Song to experience all this.

Glover: I think so, but my initiative of this whole thing really has been around a humility and there’s a lot of humble people in North Korea and this group, I don’t think, is claiming to be stars or anything. They just want. They’re very patriotic and they want to compete and they want to be part of this, but I think that’s more their motivation than looking at stardom.

Werman: Now, I understand, you haven’t met Rim Ju Song in person yet. When will you be introduced?

Glover: So Monday night, we’re having a dinner in celebration at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall, London, and we’ve got members of House of Lords and House of Commons coming to welcome the delegation. That’s where I shall see him at the dinner and, following on from that, be cheering him on in the poolside. To see him, hopefully, do well in the fifty meter sprint.

Werman: And this is a big deal. You must be really thrilled.

Glover: I think so, yeah. I mean, I think. I just think it’s fantastic story and it doesn’t matter where he comes. You know, as long as he’s there competing. That’s our aim. We wanted to see him come into the whole world Olympics and I think that’s really important.

Werman: Go Rim Ju Song! Robert Glover, the executive director of U.K.-based charity Care For Children. Thank you so much.

Glover: Thank you.

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