BUSAN, (South Korea), Sept 27: The 14th Asian Games officially get underway here Sunday with hosts South Korea hoping to capitalise on their successes at the World Cup, but with attention firmly fixed on their northern neighbours.

Of the 9,900 athletes from 44 nations, it will be the 159-strong contingent from North Korea who will be the most closely watched although the visitors from Pyongyang will not be the only objects of desire over the next two weeks.

Afghanistan, East Timor and Palestine will be hoping to put aside their dark days of turmoil, while a group of women from the tiny Gulf state of Qatar has been handed the chance to represent their Muslim nation for the first time.

Anyone hoping for a sight of the North Koreans has been left disappointed.

South and North Korea have remained hostile since the 1950-53 Korean War and Busan organizers agreed to provide the North delegation with stepped-up security at the Games.

But when the squad arrived Monday, spectators were hustled away by police while reporters have been kept at arms’ length at training sessions.

Games officials were reluctant to discuss security arrangements but chief spokesman Sohn Yohl admitted that heavy security was causing complaints.

“Under an agreement reached in South and North Korean sports talks we have worked out plans to protect North Korean athletes,” he said.

“There was also a need from our side to prevent unhappy incidents in addition to North Korea’s request.” —AFP