The Vatican will send a delegation to the International Olympic Committee's(IOC) general meeting in Seoul and the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. 

Vatican vice spokesperson Paloma Garcia Ovejero said on Sunday that the IOC invited the Vatican to send a delegation to its general meeting and the opening ceremony for the first time.

The delegation will be headed by Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture and head of its "Culture and Sport" section. 

The Vatican delegation will attend the IOC general meeting from Monday to Wednesday as observers and also attend the opening ceremony set for Friday.
 
Speaking ahead of his departure to South Korea, the delegation chief said that he was invited as a distinguished guest to the opening of the Rio Olympic Games, but the relationship between the Holy See and the IOC has been brought to a higher level, noting that the IOC invited the Holy See to the opening of the Olympic Games as an official delegation.