INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said today that the governing body has done its part in getting North and South Korea together at the Pyeongchang Olympics — but it was up to politicians to seize the opportunity for peace.

“You know sport cannot create peace,” Bach said. “We cannot lead their political negotiations. We have sent this message — this dialogue — that negotiations can lead to a positive result. Now it’s up to the political side to use this momentum.”

Bach said he’s hopeful that relations will continue to thaw after the “Olympic flame has been extinguished” at the closing ceremony on February 25 in the mountains of South Korea.